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MADISON, 

DANE   COUNTY 


AND 


SURROUNDING  TOWNS; 

BEINO  A 

HISTORY   AND   GUIDE 

TO   PLACES    OP   SCENIC    BEAUTY  AND    HISTORICAL   NOTE    FOUND  IN   THE   TOWN3 

OF   DANE    COUNTY   AND    SURROUNDINGS,  INCLUDING    THE    ORGANIZATION 

OF   THE   TOWNS,    AND    EARLY    INTERCOURSE    OF  THE    SET'j  LERS 

WITH  THE  INDIANS,  THEIR   CAMPS,  TRAILS,  MOUNDS,  ETC. 

WITH  A  COMPLETE   LIST  OF 

COUNTY  SUPERVISORS  AND  OFFICERS, 

AND 
LEGISLATIVE  MEMBERS,  MADISON  VILLAGE  AND  CITV  COUNCIL. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


v 


MADISON,  WIS.: 

PUBLISHED  BY  WM.  J.  PARK  &  CO., 

BOOKSELLERS,    STATIONERS    AND   BINDERS, 
11    KING    STREET. 

1877. 


0^ 


ooPTRiaai, 
WM.   J.   PAKK    %    CO. 

1677. 


DAVID  ATWOOD,   STEREOTYPES  AND  miNTEE, 
MADISON.  WIS. 


PREFACE. 


In  presenting  to  our  readers  the  History  of  Madison,  Dane  Coun- 
ty and  Surrounding'  Towns,  we  do  it  with  some  degree  of  gratifi- 
cation;— not  because  we  have  the  presumption  to  conceive  that 
we  have  issued  a  complete  work,  or  that  it  is  free  from  errors;  but 
simply  because  we  have  had  so  many  kind  helps  rendered  us  in 
bringing  the  work  up  to  its  present  condition,  and  without  flat- 
tering ourselves  that  we  have  composed  some  grand  strain,  or  even 
been  in  full  harmony  with  all  our  parts,  we  have,  at  least,  struck 
the  key-note  from  which  we  have  built  up  good,  if  not  square  work. 

To  show  that  our  work  was  needed,  it  is  only  necessary  for  us  to 
call  the  reader's  attention  to  the  many  chapters  so  freely  contributed 
by  many  of  our  citizens,  who,  making  no  pretensions  to  any  great 
literary  acumen,  have  related  the  facts  and  incidents  of  their  towns 
in  terms  sometimes  vmfinished,  but  never  lacking  power  and  sim- 
plicity to  express  what  they  knew,  thus  commending  to  our  admir- 
ation the  free  and  unvarnished  manner  with  which  the  story  of 
pioneer  life,  trials  and  sufferings  is  related,  and  the  evident  delight 
taken  in  looking  back  on  those  difficulties,  to  enact  them  over  again. 

We  think  our  work  has  been  instrumental  in  saving  from  oblivi- 
on much  that  would  have  passed  unheeded  hi  the  annals  of  the 
early  settlement  and  development  of  our  county.  Our  citizens,  in 
their  early  pioneer  life,  forgetting  that  they  were  makers  of  history, 
saved  comparatively  little  of  the  past  dates  or  records. 

History  by  towns  has  not,  we  believe,  been  published  in  this 
state  before,  and  we  feel  certain  that  no  surer  way  could  be  de- 
vised for  reaching  facts  than  the  plan  we  have  adopted,  as  there  are 
none  better  able  to  write  a  family  history  than  one  of  its  members. 
To  the  writers  of  the  ensuing  chapters  we  suggested  the  following 
subjects,  which  our  readers  will  see  have  been  conscientiously  ad- 
hered to:  The  early  settlement  and  organization  of  each  town; 
pioneer  trials  and  difficulties ;  scenic  beauty  and  hygiene ;  industri- 
al pursuits  and  markets;  schools  and  churches;  early  intercourse 
with  the  Indians;  camps,  trails,  graves  or  mounds,  etc. 

The  work  has  exceeded,  by  several  hundred  pages,  our  agree- 
ment with  subscribers,  but  having  been  assured  of  remuneration 
therefor  by  an  increase  of  names  on  our  subscription  list,  we  have 
decided  to  make  no  advance  hi  price. 

The  adjacent  towns  have  been  added  to  our  book  at  the  suggestion 
of  citizens  of  those  places,  and  it  is  proper  that  they  should  be,  as 
socially  and  commercially  there  are  no  boundary  hues  between  us; 
and  with  all  the  cordiality  of  neighbors,  it  affords  us  pleasure  to 
invite  the  attention  of  the  reader  to  these  chapters  not  only  as  a 


6  PEEFACE. 

partial  exhibit  of  their  in  lustrial  pursuits  and  business  tact,  but 
also  as  evidence  that  we  are  linked  together  by  a  stronger  tie  than 
sectional  lines. 

The  chapter  on  Lake  Koshkonong  is  from  the  pen  of  Prof.  Kuui- 
lien,  a  scientist  of  no  mean  mark  either  in  this  country  or  Europe. 
Although  he  has  devoted  a  life  time  to  the  study  of  natural  history, 
and  his  labors  been  heralded  abroad,  there  are  but  few  of  our  citizens 
that  even  know  that  this  se^r  is  living  at  our  very  doors.  Forty 
long  years  has  he  quietly  and  unobtrusively  spent  in  studying  the 
botanical  life  of  many  of  our  plants,  as  well  a3  giving  us  a  clearer 
insight  into  the  ornithology  of  this  continent,  and  we  feel  our  duty 
but  begun  in  our  meager  effort  to  make  these  facts  known. 

The  "Historical  Introduction"  will  be  found  full  of  interesting 
dates  and  facts,  as  also  the  chapter  on  "Personal  Recollections," 
whde  the  list  of  County  Officers,  obtained  at  considerable  labor,  and 
the  only  list  published,  will  be  used  as  a  useful  reference. 

Our  county  is  the  largest  in  population  and  wealth  of  any  other 
in  our  state,  except  Milwaukee,  and  is  largely  on  the  increase.  The 
healthful  character  of  our  climate,  together  with  our  rich  and  varied 
displays  of  scenic  beauty  beheld  every  where  around  us,  is  bringing 
hundreds  to  our  doors  who  are  not  only  invigorated  by  our  pure 
and  bracing  atmosphere,  but  enchanted  with  the  landscape  grand- 
eur that  foreign  lands  but  tamely  mimic.  Historical  places  point 
to  ages  as  yet  comparatively  unknown,  and  if  a  people,  whom  we 
designate  as  Mound  Builders,  lived  here,  it  is  but  right  to  infer  that 
they  were  neither  ignorant  of  our  climate  or  our  scenery,  but  as  is 
shown,  left  larger  evidences  of  their  labors  here  than  in  any  other 
section  of  this  country. 

We  have  been  much  gratified  at  the  cordiality  with  which  our 
citizens  have  entered  into  the  enterprise,  and  take  this  opportunity 
of  offering  them  our  grateful  acknowledgments,  and  especially  to 
the  writers  of  the  different  chapters,  for  their  kind  and  unselfish 
interest  in  collecting  the  many  facts  and  pleasing  incidents  there- 
in related.  Such  men  are,  as  a  rule,  the  bone  and  sinew  of  a  com- 
munity, and  never  weary  in  well  doing.  We  are  also  indebted  to 
the  following  gentlemen,  who  have  made  it  a  matter  of  interest 
and  labor  to  aid  us  in  our  undertaking:    Hon.  Simeon  Mills,  Wm. 

A.  Wheeler,  E.  M.  Williamson,  E.  Burdick,  Geo.  B.  Smith,  Wm. 
Vroman,  N.  T.  Parkinson,  Wm.  Welch,  S.  W.  Botkin,  Hon.  Ly- 
man C.  Draper,  Prof.  S.  H.  Carpenter,  Prof.  R.  B.  Anderson,  D.  S. 
Durrie(who  aided  us  materially,  by  the  use  of  several  of  his  MSS.), 
Phillip  Barry,  (for  the  use  of  county  records,)  Gabriel  Bjornson,  P. 

B.  Parsons,  0.  S.  Holum,  Hon.  J.  A.  Johnson,  Gen.  S.  Cadwalla- 
der,  Judge  N.  F.  Hyer,  Judge  J.  T.  Clark,  Capt.  John  Nader,  Jas. 
R.  Stuart,  (for  draught  of  design  on  back  of  the  volume),  N.  P. 
Jones,  (for  photographs  to  the  engraver),  N.  T.  Hawes,  John  Cors- 
cot  (for  city  records),  and  others.  W.  J.  P. 


CONTENTS. 


CITY  OF  MADISON. 

Chapter.  Page.       Cliipter  Page. 

I — In  the  beginning,  .    .      9     VII — Newspaper  Histoiy,      l'»9 

II— Locating  Lhe  Capital,      20    VIII— Merchants  £  Bankers,124 

III— Pioneers,       ....    40  I      X — Schools,  Literature,etc.  146 


IV— State  University,  .     .     67 
V — Historical  Society      .    S3 


XI — Madison  Homes,    .     .  167 
XII — Visitors  and  Resorts    .  176 


VI — Churches  and  Pastors,    95    XIII — Mounds  and  Relics,   .  184 

DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS. 
Historical    Introduction:  —  Characteristics  of  the  county 

— Naming  of  the  Lakes — County  before  its  settlement — Streams — 
Population — Chinches— Schools— Property  value — .Railroads,    .        .     203 

Dates  and  Facts:  —  First  justice,  election  and  judges;  first 
books  and  stationery,  juries,  indictment,  chancery  suit,  wolf  bounty, 
licenses  and  treasurer;  first  jail,  circus,  metal  casting  and  post 
office  box ;  first  woolen  mill,  blacksmith  and  auctioneer — Naming 
of  Aztalan— Early  assessment  of  lauds  and  tax — Completion  of  pub- 
lic buildings — Mineral  waters,  etc  , 210 

Albion — Prof  A.  R.  Cornwall,      , 283 

Berry — Hon.  Otto  Kerl  and  Wm.  S.  Crowther,  Esq.,       .  266 

Black  Earth — Clarence  Burnett  and  A.  J.  Fullerton,         .  519 

Blooming  Grove — James  Kavanaugh,  Esq.,  .  *      .        .  532 

Blue  Mounds — John  C.  Ward  and  Ira  Isham,  Esqrs.,        .  236 

Bristol — J.  R.  Davis,  Esq.,  .        .  ...  380 

Burke — John  Douglas,  Esq.,     ......  393 

Cambridge — Hon.  Geo.  Dow  and  A.  B.  Carpenter,  Esq.,     .  366 

Christiana— Chas.  N.  Brown  and  others,        .        .        .  351 

Cottage  Grove— James  Bell,  Esq.,         ....  276 

Cross  Plains — Henry  Winkle,  Esq 440 

Dane — Hon.  Robert  Steele  and  Mansfield  Ames,      .        .  463 

Deerfield— Hon.  K.  0.  Heimclal, 432 

Dunn— William  E.  Colladay,  Esq, 488 

Dunkirk — Prof.  Geo.  W.  Currier, 347 

Fitchburg — Dr.  Wm.  H.  Fox  and  Wm.  Vroman,  Esq.,  448 

Madison— Hon.  H.  A.  Tenney, 539 

Mazomanie — Henry  Howarth  and  Henry  Z.  Moulton,  Esqrs. ,  592 

Medina — Frank  L.  Morrill,  Esq., 217 

Middleton — A.  B.  Parmenter,  Esq.,        ....  589 

Montrose— H.  E.  Story,  Esq.,    Paoli— H.  S.  Utley,  Esq.,  474 

Mount  Vernon — Dr.  W.  J.  Donald,        ....  312 


8 


CONTEXTS    AND    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Oregon— Dr.  I.  Howe  and  T.  E.  Thompson,         .        .        .  505 

Perry— Gabriel  Bjornson, 291 

Pleasant  Springs — Prof.  A.  R.  Ames,       ....  371 

PRiMROSE-Hon.  G.  Tollefson, 526 

Roxbury — Hon.  John  T.  Clark, 495 

Rutland— Hon.  S.  W.  Graves, 387 

Springdale — James  P.  McPherson,  Esq.,    ....  306 

Springfield — E.  Harding.  Esq., 328 

Stougiiton — Prof.  Geo.  W.  Currier,  ....  338 

Sun  Prairie— Dr.  C.  G.  Cross 313 

Vermont —       .........  588 

Verona — Donald  McDonald  and  J.  T.  Hawes,     .        .        .  571 

Vienna — Hon.  A.  A.  Boyce, 563 

"West  Blue  Mounds — Dr.  R.  W.  Jones,     ....  244 

Westport  and  Village  of  Waunakee — E.L.  Noyes,  Esq.,  298 

Windsor — Sherman  Brothers  and  H.  A.  Lewis,  .        .        .  249 

York— 570 

TOWNS  ADJACENT. 

Brooklyn — J.  W.  Haseltine,  Esq., 632 

Edgerton— E.  A.  Burdick,  Esq., 650 

Evansville,  Rock  County— D.  Johnson,  L.  Leonard,  J.  West,  617 

Lake  Koshkonong — Prof.  T.  L.  Kumlien,  .        .        .  628 

Lodi— Hon.  J.  T.  Clark, 636 


Personal  Recollections, 

County  Supervisors  and  Officers, 

Legislative  Members, 

Madison  Village  and  City  Council, 


559 

655 
660 

662 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Birdseye  View  or  Madison,  -  2 

-Mrs.  Eben  Peck, £5 

Lake   Monona, 31 

King  Street. 35 

First  House  in  Madison..    -    -  43 

Hon.  Simeon  Mills,     ...    -  49 

State   University, 75 

Hon.  Lyman  C.  Draper,       -    -  87 

'  Congregational  CHURCH,   -     -  104 

"Hon.  David  Atwood. 107 

St\te  Journal  Block.     -     -    -  113 

D.   K.  Tenney.  Esq  ,     -    -    -    -  119 

Wisconsin  State  Capitol,       -  131 

City  Hall  and  U.S.  Postoffice  1  II 

Madison  City  High  School,  -  151 

Elm  Side,  Dr.  Boweu's  residence  169 


Rosebank  Cottage,  ...  -  173 
Yatch  on  Lake  Monona.  -  -  177 
Angleworm  Station,  -    -     -    -     181 

Marietta, .-    -     185 

Knives,  Awls  and  Bracelets,   189 


Porphyry  and  Greenstone, 


19(3 


Drinking  Cup, 197 


Sepulchral  Urns. 

Map  of  Dane  County. 

Old  Court  House,  -    -  215 

Indian  Camp, x'71 

Albion  Academy,    -    -    -    - 
Opera  House,  Stougiiton, 
Stoughton  Wason  Works, 
Early  Agricultural  Scene, 
Lake  Kegonsa  and  Steamer, 


IG9 

ill 


311 
345 
359 
377 


HISTORY  OF  MADISON. 


CHAPTER  I. 

IN  THE   BEGINNING. 

Soon  after  Pere  Marquette  made  his  way  to  the 
Mississippi,  from  the  Lakes,  this  "Western  country 
was  overrun  by  Canadian  French  voyacjeurs,  whose 
country,  language  and  religion,  were  considerable  aids 
to  trade  among  the  tribes  of  Indians,  recently  gath- 
ered into  the  fold  of  the  Catholic  church.  There  is 
no  positive  evidence  that  they  were  on  this  identical 
spot,  but  a  probability,  all  but  overwhelming,  suggests 
their  presence  in  the  Lake  country,  because  the  In- 
dians were  here,  and,  moreover,  because  the  conform- 
ation of  the  country,  the  large  and  beautiful  lakes, 
and  other  well  known  features,  specially  adapted  this 
particular  locality  for  the  supply  of  peltry.  There 
was  a  mission  house  at  or  near  Green  Bav  before 
Marcpiette's  world-famous  canoe  voyage  by  the  Fox 
and  Wisconsin  rivers;  but  there  is  no  mention  by 
which  our  topography  is  identified  until  more  than  a 
century  later,  in  the  records  of  Capt.  Carver,  as  pub- 
lished after  1768.     His  "  Travels  through  the  interior 


10  HISTOKT    OF    MADISON. 

parts  of  North  America  "  make  unmistakable  refer- 
ences to  the  Blue  Mounds,  which  he  knew,  probably 
from  the  Indians,  were  supposed  to  be  rich  in  lead. 
The  captain  shrewdly  suspected  the  trappers  of  hav- 
ing purposely  misrepresented  the  territory  for  their 
better  security  as  to  ulterior  designs  of  their  own. 
The  Jesuit  maps  of  the  Lake  Superior  country,  pre- 
pared a  century  earlier  in  Paris,  were  very  good,  con- 
sidering the  limited  facilities  of  the  priests  by  whom 
the  information  was  supplied,  but  the  operations  of 
the  Canadian  voyageurs,  jealously  defending  their 
trading  privileges  after  their  old  home  had  passed 
under  the  rule  of  strangers,  would  be  subject  to  very 
different  rules. 

The  Sacs  and  Foxes  held  this  territory  from  time 
immemorial,  so  far  as  we  have  any  positive  knowl- 
edge, until  the  year  1825,  when  the  Nations  sold  their 
rights  to  all  lands  east  of  the  Mississippi.  Unfortu- 
nately, for  the  red  men,  they  were  persuaded  by 
some  of  their  leaders  to  play  fast  and  loose  with  their 
treaty,  and  after  the  first  removal,  there  were  almost 
continuous  returns,  and  on  many  occasions  marauding 
parties  inflicted  damage  on  property  and  life  by  way 
of  asserting  a  right  to  their  old  hunting  grounds. 
In  the  year  1831  things  had  become  unendurable,  and 
it  was  found  necessary  to  drive  the  Indians  back 
across  the  newly  agreed  upon  barrier,  the  Mississippi. 
The  "Winnebago  outbreak  and  the  Black  Hawk  war, 
the  first  named  in  1831-2,  and  the  latter  concurrent 
with  or  immediately  following,  were  parts  of  the  same 


HISTOKY   OF   MADISON. 


11 


scheme  of  aggression,  intended  to  recover  for  the 
tribes  the  lands  already  sold  and  delivered  by  their 
chiefs  and  themselves.  Eventually  the  Indians  were 
repressed  and  forced  back  with  a  firm  hand. 

The  first  attempt  at  settlement  in  this  county  was 
made  in  1827-8,  by  Col.  Ebenezer  Brigham,  who  died 
in  this  city  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-two,  in  the 
year  1861.  He  visited  Wisconsin  in  1822,  but  it  was 
not  until  five  years  later  that  he  came  hither  to  make  a 
permanent  abode.  The  lead  mines  were  the  chief  at- 
traction, but  after  a  brief  sojourn  at  Platte  river,  on 
what  is  known  as  the  Block  House  branch,  he  and  his 
party  retired  to  Galena,  not  being  strong  enough  to 
hold  their  own  in  a  country  possessed  by  hostile  In- 
dians. Early  in  1828,  Col.  Brigham  and  his  asso- 
ciates took  up  a  position  in  the  Blue  Mounds,  still 
mining  for  lead.  Food  supplies,  at  first  procured 
from  Galena,  were  afterwards  obtained  from  Fort 
Winnebago,  and  it  was  while  returning  from  Fort 
Winnebago  that  the  beauties  of  the  Lake  country 
were  first  discovered  by  Col.  Brigham.  The  Indians 
had  told  him  about  the  lakes,  but  the  beautiful  real- 
ity vastly  exceeded  their  description.  The  pioneer  is 
not  always  capable  of  appreciating  the  picturesque, 
but  the  colonel  predicted  the  greatness  of  the  village 
that  would  be  built  where  Madison  now  stands,  being 
impressed  by  the  charms  of  the  scene,  and  he  even 
assumed  that  the  capital  of  the  Territory  and  State 
would  be  here  located. 

The  first  comers  to  this  county  were  widely  severed 


12  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

from  their  nearest  friends.  Dodgeville  was  the  resi- 
dence of  their  next  door  neighbor,  and  to  the  south- 
east they  could  call  upon  somewhat  distant  acquaint- 
ances on  the  O'Plaine  river,  hardly  twelve  miles  from 
Chicago.  Col.  Juneau  was  located  near  the  junction 
of  the  Milwaukee  and  Menomonee  rivers,  laying  the 
foundations  of  the  beautiful  Cream  City,  which  is 
now  the  commercial  metropolis  of  Wisconsin.  It 
will  be  seen  at  once  that  every  settlement  in  those 
days  had  to  rely  mainly  upon  its  own  means  of  de- 
fense against  the  Indians,  who  were  established  in 
populous  villages  in  every  direction.  As  a  rule  there 
was  a  good  understanding,  and  from  time  to  time 
treaties  were  made  defining  the  boundaries  of  the 
new  comers,  but  the  stipulations  of  the  natives  were 
extended  and  broken  repeatedly.  So  slowly  did  the 
people  migrate  hitherwards,  that  Col.  Brigham  was 
still  the  nearest  settler  when  the  capital  was  located, 
and  his  residence  was  distant  twenty -five  miles. 
Gov.  Lewis  Cass,  the  chief  executive  of  Michigan 
Territory,  had  jurisdiction  from  the  earliest  set- 
tlement, and  he  made  Col.  Brigham  the  first  justice 
ever  appointed  here,  but  his  office  was  almost  a  sine- 
cure during  the  four  years  that  he  retained  the  honor. 
The  difficulties  under  which  these  hardy  miners 
opened  up  their  lucrative  calling  cannot  readily  be 
made  to  appear  to  the  modern  reader.  The  traveler 
of  to-day  is  transported  in  a  few  hours  from  Madison  to 
Chicago,  can  dispatch  the  business  of  the  clay  in  the 
metropolis  of  the  northwest  and   return,  without  a 


HISTORY   OF   MADISON.  1 


a 


sense  of  fatigue  or  a  stain  of  travel,  to  his  home  at 
night,  but  there  was  no  such  luxury  possible  to  the 
adventurous  colonel  and  his  companions  who  sent 
their  product  to  Green  Bay,  Galena  or  Chicago,  and 
who  had  not  a  wagon  track  to  guide  them  toward  the 
village  which  has  now  expanded  to  the  colossal  pro- 
portions of  Chicago.  That  mighty  Babylon  was  then 
an  insignificant  village,  in  which  there  seemed  to  be 
no  probability  that  the  people  would  master  the  diffi- 
culties incident  to  the  position  and  render  it  habita- 
ble in  the  better  sense.  The  old  colonel  was  natu- 
rally and  fitly  included  in  the  earliest  attempts  to  or- 
ganize a  government  in  this  territory,  when  the  sev- 
erance from  Michigan  was  effected  in  1836,  and  for 
very  many  years  he  was  identified  with  the  succeed- 
ing forms  of  administration. 

A  trip  from  Green  Bay  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  on 
horseback,  was  undertaken  for  the  first  time  in  May, 
1829,  by  Judge  Doty,  afterwards  Governor,  and  two 
attorneys  of  the  first  named  settlement,  Henry  S. 
Baird  and  Morgan  L.  Martin,  guided  by  a  Menomo- 
nee  Indian  whose  acquaintance  with  the  country  was 
by  no  means  perfect;  but  their  seven  days  pilgrimage 
made  them  conversant  with  the  topographical  features 
of  Lake  Winnebago,  Fond  du  Lac,  Green  Lake,  our 
own  Four  Lakes,  the  site  of  our  city,  the  Blue  Mounds 
and  Dodgeville,  besides  the  vast  range  of  country  in- 
cluded in  their  interesting  detour.  There  had  been 
many  transits  by  the  Fox  and  Wisconsin  to  the  Miss- 
issippi, since  the  days  of  Pere  Marquette  and  his  voy- 


14  HISTOKY   OF   MADISON. 

ageurs,  but  this,  so  far  as  can  be  known,  was  the  first 
journey  made  by  white  men  overland.  Three  years 
later  Judge  Doty  again  visited  this  spot,  having  been 
much  impressed  by  its  beauty,  and  being  desirous  to 
see  a  town  started  in  the  midst  of  so  much  natural 
grandeur. 

The  ambitious  designs  of  Black  Hawk,  who  had 
obtained  an  ascendency  over  the  braves  of  his  own 
and  of  neighboring  tribes,  led  to  a  disastrous  war 
with  the  Indians  in  1832,  as  already  indicated,  and 
the  settlers  of  this  portion  of  Wisconsin  were  not 
backward  during  that  eventful  period.  There  was  an 
actual  alliance  between  the  deceitful  "Winnebagoes 
and  the  more  immediate  followers  of  Black  Hawk, 
the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  some  time  before  hostilities  were 
openly  commenced;  but  the  savages  were  full  of  pro- 
testations as  to  their  peaceful  and  friendly  disposition. 
Col.  Brigham  could  not  be  hoodwinked  by  their  flat- 
teries, and  he,  with  the  cooperation  of  his  little  army 
of  industry,  built  a  block  house  fort,  on  the  prairie, 
near  Blue  Mounds,  as  part  of  their  system  of  defense. 
"When  hostile  demonstrations  were  anticipated,  the 
whole  of  the  settlers  near  at  hand,  with  their  families, 
congregated  within  the  palisade  that  surrounded  the 
main  buildings.  The  Winnebagoes  were  still  per- 
sistent as  to  their  friendship  and  alliance,  until  the 
beginning  of  June,  1832,  although  there  is  good  rea- 
son for  believing  that  they  were  supplying  informa- 
tion and  help  to  their  more  warlike  neighbors,  long 
before  that  date.     Preparations  for  war  were  made, 


HISTORY   OF   MADISON.  15 

regardless  of  the  Winnebago  promises,  as  it  was 
well  known  that  Black  Hawk's  followers  would  cause 
trouble  without  much  delay.  The  commanding  officer 
at  Mound  Fort,  Capt.  John  Sherman,  saw  the  proba- 
bility of  war  to  be  so  imminent  that  he  communicated 
his  apprehensions  to  Col.  Dodge,  afterwards  governor, 
and  the  colonel  marched  to  the  reinforcement  of  Sher- 
man with  two  hundred  men,  collected  from  other  and 
less  exposed  positions  in  the  mining  districts.  Shortly 
after  this  timely  aid  arrived,  James  Aubrey,  the  first 
commander  at  the  fort,  was  killed  near  the  residence 
of  Col.  Brigham,  while  procuring  water  from  a 
spring.  The  Sac  Indians  killed  him,  being  guided  to 
their  ambush  by  the  treacherous  "Wmnebagoes,  within 
a  few  days  of  the  time  when  they  were  most  lavish 
in  expressions  of  friendship.  Their  part  in  the  mur- 
der was  surmised,  but  not  known,  at  the  time  of  Au- 
brey's death.  A  second  ambush  was  planned,  and 
succeeded  on  the  20th  of  the  month,  fourteen  davs 
after  the  death  of  Aubrey.  The  savages  having  made 
their  dispositions  for  the  purpose,  caused  some  few  of 
their  body  to  reveal  themselves  to  the  occupants  of 
the  fort.  Lieut.  Force,  accompanied  by  a  comrade 
named  Green,  the  latter  leaving  his  wife  and  children 
in  the  stockade,  made  a  reconnoisance,  in  the  course 
of  which  they  were  decoyed  by  the  retiring  Indians 
into  a  trap  laid  for  the  destruction  of  a  much  larger 
body.  Force  and  Green  fought  and  maneuvered  with 
bravery  and  skill,  but  they  were  so  completely  en- 
meshed that  there  was  no  possibility  of  escape.     The 


16  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

savages  mutilated  their  victims  in  a  shameful  manner 
after  death.  The  watch  worn  by  Lieut.  Force  was 
subsequently  recovered  from  the  body  of  a  dead  In- 
dian, by  a  trader  named  Wallis  Rowan.  The  red 
man,  overtaken  by  fatigue,  had  apparently  lain  down 
to  rest,  and  in  that  way  was  destroyed  by  a  prairie 
fire.  The  efforts  and  the  deaths  of  Force  and  Green 
were  seen  from  Mound  Fort. 

Notwithstanding  these  cruel  and  purposeless  suc- 
cesses, the  Indians  were  pursued  by  the  main  body  of 
settlers  and  troops,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Dodge, 
over  the  Crawfish,  near  Aztalan,  across  the  site  of  this 
city,  to  the  north  end  of  Monona,  and  at  Catfish  Ford, 
a  brisk  engagement  with  the  rear  guard  of  the  flying 
foe,  taught  the  Indians  what  they  might  expect  in  the 
way  of  punishment.  One  Indian  was  shot  sitting 
upon  the  newly-made  grave  of  his  squaw,  having 
calmly  taken  that  position  apparently  with  the  hope 
that  he  would  thus  readily  join  her  in  the  Happy 
Hunting  Grounds.  Eventually  the  Black  Hawk  war 
was  ended  by  decisive  battles,  the  only  kind  of  argu- 
ment that  can  be  conclusive  with  savages,  and  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  reel  skins  that  had  been  in  arms  were 
killed,  captured  or  dispersed.  Black  Hawk  and  his 
accomplice,  the  Prophet,  who  had  buoyed  up  the  tribes 
with  delusive  promises,  were  surrendered  to  General 
Street,  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  on  the  27th  of  August, 
1832,  by  the  chiefs  of  their  own  people,  One-Eyed 
Decorra  and  Cha-E.  Tar.  The  treaty  with  the  Sacs 
and  Foxes,  made  at  Rock  Island  in  September  of  that 


HISTOBY    OF    MADISON.  17 

year,   happily   terminated  the   Indian  difficulties  of 
"Wisconsin. 

Shortly  after  the  Black  Hawk  war  had  been  crushed 
out,  the  attractions  of  this  site  brought  settlers  here, 
and  on  the  15th  of  October,  1832,  an  encampment 
was  made  by  Capt.  Low,  James  Halpin  and  Archi- 
bald Crisman,  on  Mendota  Lake  ridge.  There  were 
numerous  Indians  then  located  on  the  city  site,  hav- 
ing been  concentrated  here  by  the  facilities  offered  by 
a  French  trader,  whose  abode  was  on  the  ground  now 
crossed  by  Johnson  street.  Rowan,  the  Indian  trader 
into  whose  hands  the  watch  of  Lieut.  Force  fell  as 
lawful  spoil,  had  long  before  taken  up  his  location  in 
this  neighborhood.  Mr.  Abel  Rasdall,  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  another  early  resident,  commenced  his 
"Wisconsin  experiences  as  a  lead  miner,  and  thence 
diverging  into  the  avocation  of  an  Indian  trader,  was 
connected  by  marriage  with  a  "Winnebago  woman. 
After  her  death,  he  married  another  of  the  same  tribe, 
but  she  eventually  migrated  west  with  her  own  peo 
pie,  and  her  husband  was  not  entirely  inconsolable. 
Rasdall  had  been  for  a  considerable  time  a  prosper- 
ous trader  among  the  Indians  before  the  war  com- 
menced, but  during  the  continuance  of  hostilities 
with  Black  Hawk,  Abel  Kasdall  was  one  of  the 
readiest  and  most  daring  of  our  volunteers.  He  con- 
tinued a  resident  in  Dane  county  until  his  death  at 
Token  Creek,  in  1857,  when  he  was  fifty-two  years  old. 
After  the  conclusion  of  his  Indian  engagements,  Mr. 
Kasdall  took  to  himself  a  wife  of  his  own  race  in  this 


]8  HISTORY   OF   MADISON. 

city,  and  raised  a  family  as  the  result  of  that  mar- 
riage. He  had  traded  in  Dane  county,  and  more 
especially  around  the  Four  Lakes,  since  the  year 
before  the  Black  Hawk  war. 

From  the  time  of  the  first  colony  planted  in  Illi- 
nois by  La  Salle,  in  167S-9,  the  Canadian  voyagers 
and  colonists  had  customarily  intermarried  with  the 
Indians  with,  as  a  rule,  no  other  result  than  that  the 
more  civilized  race  was  absorbed  by  the  other,  and 
the  result  did  not  exhibit  a  corresponding  increase 
of  capacity  to  appropriate  the  advantages  of  civ- 
ilization. Some  of  the  half  breeds  were  sharp  and 
dangerous,  but  few  are  known  as  estimable  men. 
One  of  the  earliest  traders  here  seems  to  have  been  an 
exception  to  that  rule.  His  name  was  Michel  St. 
Cyr,  son  of  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  by  a  Winnebago. 
Living  always  on  the  frontier  and  among  the  Indians, 
he  had  not  participated  in  the  advantages  of  schools, 
but  he  bore  an  excellent  character  as  a  man  of  verac- 
ity, a  virtue  not  always  found  associated  with  civili- 
zation, although  certainly  a  part  of  the  highest.  St. 
Cyr  was  one  of  the  traders  in  the  Four  Lake  country, 
dividing  his  attention  between  the  traffic  by  which  he 
made  money  and  a  small  garden,  that  gave  him  and 
his  Winnebago  children  a  subsistence.  His  cabin 
served  occasionally  as  a  caravanserai  and  something 
more,  when  travelers  visited  the  lakes.  Eventually 
St.  Cyr  sold  out  his  improvements  to  Col.  Slaughter, 
and  retired  to  the  Winnebago  reservation  in  Iowa. 
His  sons  were  considered  worthless,  even  by  the  In- 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON".  19 

dians,  and  that  atom  of  civilization  was  utterly  erased. 
The  F.  F.  Y.'s  would  not  trace  their  lineage  to  Poca- 
hontas, rt  the  husband  of  that  lady  had  been  domi- 
ciliated among  the  tribes,  and  if  the  result  of  that 
marriage  had  been  given  over  to  Indian  customs  and 
general  training. 

Preliminary  steps  for  the  survey  of  the  lands  in 
this  locality  were  taken  by  the  general  government 
in  1834,  and  before  the  end  of  the  year,  that  duty  had 
been  completed.  The  survey  and  plat  of  this  city 
were  made  under  special  directions  from  Judge  Doty, 
who  had  long  before  that  time  been  impressed  by  the 
beauty  of  this  site  and  its  surroundings.  The  fur- 
ther proceedings  of  the  early  settlers  must  be  dealt 
with  in  a  future  chapter. 


20  HISTOKY    OF   MADISON. 


CHAPTEK  II. 

LOCATING   THE   CAPITAL. 

Settlement  had  made  little  progress  when  the  ques- 
tion aro'se,  "  where  shall  we  fix  our  capital  ? "  Suddenly, 
from  all  parts  of  the  territory,  arose  the  voice  of  in- 
domitable advocates,  and  when  the  first  legislature 
was  convened  at  Belmont,  there  was  a  display  of  log- 
rolling such  as  could  hardly  be  excelled.  Judge  Doty, 
who  had  traversed  nearly  the  whole  territory  on 
horseback  or  in  his  canoe,  accoutred  "  with  his  green 
blanket  and  shot  gun,"  might  have  been  trusted  to 
make  the  selection,  but  for  the  fact,  that  he  had 
long  since  decided  in  his  own  mind,  and  had  joined 
with  Gov.  Mason  of  Michigan,  in  purchasing  the  site 
occupied  by  this  city  for  $1,500.  Fond  du  Lac, 
Dubuque,  in  Iowa,  which  was  part  of  our  territory, 
Portage,  Belmont,  Helena,  Eacine,  Milwaukee,  Platte- 
ville,  Mineral  Point,  Cassville,  Green  Bay,  Kosh- 
konong,  Belleview,  Wisconsinapolis,  "Wisconsin  City 
and  Peru,  were  all  advocated  with  unscrupulous  zeal, 
and  every  one  of  the  rival  cities,  many  of  which,  like 
Madison,  lived  only  on  paper,  had  anxious  friends 
who  were  ready  to  abandon  their  own  chances  for  the 
time,  to  unite  on  any  of  the  others,  only  to  defeat  the 
most  dangerous  competitor.     Madison  was,  perhaps, 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON.  21 

chanrpioned  in  the  same  way  as  most  of  the  other 
cities  of  the  brain,  but  with  more  success.  Corner 
lots  were  much  in  request,  among  the  men  whose 
votes  could  make  or  unmake  a  capital  at  Belmont, 
and  lobbying  was  the  rule.  It  is  tacitly  admitted  by 
many,  and  openly  stated  by  some,  that  Madison 
~mio-ht  not  have  been  selected  as  the  site,  had  not 
Judge  Doty  permitted  many  legislators  and  their 
bosom  friends,  a  pecuniary  interest  in  the  venture 
which  Gov.  Mason  and  he  had  made.  The  majority 
in  the  legislative  council,  as  it  was,  proved  to  be  only 
one  in  an  aggregate  of  thirteen,  and  in  the  house  of 
representatives,  only  four  in  an  aggregate  of  twenty- 
six.  The  margin  was  too  small  for  comfort,  but  it 
was  sufficient.  Thus  it  happened,  that  after  an 
exciting  contest,  the  peninsula  between  the  third  and 
fourth  of  the  Four  Lakes  was  chosen  as  the  home  of 
our  territorial  government,  and  became  the  site  of  the 
handsome  city  which  we  claim  has  become  the  admired 
of  all  observers. 

The  time  in  which  this  lively  conflict  occurred 
was  especially  full  of  land  speculators.  The  public 
domain  had  enriched  hundreds,  and  millions  were 
hoping  that  the  same  process  might  cover  all  their 
needs  forever.  It  was  being  realized  in  1836  that 
there  were  blanks  as  well  as  prizes  in  the  lottery,  and 
a  collapse  was  felt  to  be  imminent.  The  founders  of 
paper  cities  were  snatching  a  new  eloquence  from 
despair,  and  this  location  of  the  capital  was  one  of 
many  schemes   on  which  fortunes  depended.      The 


22  HISTOKY    OF    MADISON. 

elegance  of  some  of  the  maps,  the  fervor  of  some  of 
their  expounders,  might  have  charmed  an  impartial 
legislator,  could  a  phenomenon  so  rare  have  been 
found  in  the  territory  of  "Wisconsin,  to  record  his 
vote  for  either  of  the  projects.  Happily,  the  proposi- 
tion of  Judge  Dotv  von  a  controlling  interest,  and 
three  commissioners,  chosen  by  joint  ballot,  were  en- 
trusted with  the  task  of  selecting  plans,  making  con- 
tracts and  superintending  the  erection  of  the  capitol. 

The  sparse  settlement  of  the  territory  generally, 
and  of  this  section  more  particularly,  cannot  be  better 
illustrated  than  by  recording  a  few  of  the  experiences 
of  travelers,  about  the  time  of,  and  soon  after  the 
passage  of  the  act  which  determined  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment. The  sessions  of  the  legislative  assembly 
were  appointed  to  be  held  at  Burlington,  in  Des 
Moines  county,  now  Iowa,  until  March  4, 1839,  unless 
the  government  buildings  here  should  be  completed 
earlier;  and  it  was  necessary  to  bring  from  a  dis- 
tance every  man  that  was  wanted  to  assist  in  the 
work  of  preparation.  The  commissioners  chosen  for 
the  task  before  named  were  Augustus  A.  Bird, 
acting  commissioner,  James  Duane  Doty,  treasurer, 
and  John  F.  O'Neill.  The  sum  appropriated  for  the 
erection  was  $20,000,  a  very  small  amount,  considering 
the  difficulties  under  which  the  work  was  to  be  under- 
taken, but  help  was  expected  from  congress. 

In  the  month  following  the  choice  of  commission- 
ers,  that  is  to  say  in  January,  1837,  Madison  was  vis- 
ited from  Milwaukee,  by  a  young  lawyer  and  land 


HISTORY   OF    MADISON.  23 

surveyor,  since  known  to  fame  as  the  Hon.  Moses  M. 
Strong,  of  Mineral  Point,  who  from  that  time  has 
been  associated  with  the  progress  of  Wisconsin  by  his 
identification  with  railroads,  river  improvements,  and 
other  public  works,  as  well  as  by  repeated  terms  of 
service  in  various  offices,  and  in  the  legislature  of  the 
territory,  as  member  and  president  in  the  constitu- 
tional convention  to  form  a  state  constitution,  and  in 
the  house  of  representatives  of  the  state,  for  some 
time  speaker.  Mr.  Strong,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Marsh 
and  Mr.  Potter,  explored  this  section  of  country,  and 
after  much  trouble,  found  the  locality  on  which  the 
capitol  now  stands;  but  they  were  not  quite  so' fortu- 
nate in  discovering  Michel  St.  Cyr's  cabin,  where 
they  hoped  to  obtain  quarters,  so  that  they  were  com- 
pelled to  pass  the  night  without  shelter  or  food  for 
their  horses  or  themselves,  on  the  spot  where  Ashton 
post  office  now  stands,  in  the  town  of  Springfield. 
From  that  bivouac,  the  party  made  their  course  by  the 
Blue  Mounds  to  Mineral  Point.  Mr.  Strong  was  em- 
ployed, in  February  of  the  same  year,  by  Judge  Doty, 
to  survey  and  stake  off  capitol  square,  and  some  of  the 
adjoining  lots  in  this  city,  and  the  haste  with  which 
the  work  must  needs  be  pushed  through  would  not 
allow  time  to  be  lost  in  waiting  for  genial  weather. 
Mr.  John  Catlin  and  Mr.  George  Messersmith  accom- 
panied the  surveyor  on  this  expedition,  and  Mr.  Josiah 
A.  JSToonan  joined  the  party  on  the  way.  The  com- 
missariat department  was  much  better  cared  for  than 
it  had  been  in  the  preceding  month,  as  Mr.  Strong 


24:  HISTORY    OF   MADISON. 

and  his  party  stayed  with  St.  Cyr,  and  were  probably 
regaled  with  the  half-breed's  standing  dish,  musk  rat 
pie,  while  the  actual  survey  was  progressing.  The 
several  days  journey  to  and  from  this  city  were  thus 
recorded:  The  first  day  out  from  Mineral  Point,  the 
party  reached  Mr.  John  Messersmith's,  just  twelve 
miles  east.  On  the  18th  of  February,  they  called  at 
Brigham's,  where  they  procured  provisions,  and  then 
pushed  on  to  Haney's  Creek,  near  the  Cross  Plains 
station  on  Black  Earth  Creek,  spending  that  night  at 
Steel's.  The  following  day  the  party  arrived  at  St. 
Cyr's,  early  enough  to  permit  of  the  work  being  com- 
menced. St.  Cyr's  place  was  so  far  from  the  scene  of 
their  labors,  that  the  party  camped  out  part  of  the 
time,  despite  the  inclemency  of  the  season,  but  heavy 
and  incessant  falls  of  snow  compelled  them  to  desist 
from  their  labors  for  many  days,  making  the  half- 
breed's  cabin  their  headquarters.  After  completing 
their  survey  for  the  time,  Mr.  Strong  and  his  party 
returned  by  way  of  Wallis  Rowan's,  who  lived  where 
Povnette  now  stands,  about  twelve  miles  south  from 
Fort  Winnebago.  Going  by  the  Wisconsin  river,  the 
party  reached  Helena,  and  thence  struck  across  to 
Mineral  Point.  The  scanty  narrative  indicates  the 
nakedness  of  the  land;  but  the  work  just  accomplished 
led  the  way  to  the  building  of  numerous  habitations. 
Other  travelers  passing  over  various  routes  toward  the 
mines,  or  with  this  city  as  their  objective  point,  reveal 
the  existence  of  Prairie  Tillage  where  Waukesha  now 
stands,  and  also  the  intermediate  halting  place  at  Fort 


^U.WVNN. 


Mrs.  Eben  Peok. 


HISTORY    OF   MADISOM.  27 

Atkinson,  en  route  to  the  Catfisli  river.  Mr.  Alex.  F. 
Pratt  and  Mr.  Augustus  Story  made  that  route  in 
February,  1837,  shortly  after  the  survey  party  had  set 
out  on  their  return  to  Mineral  Point,  and  the  new 
comers  had  been  twenty-four  hours  without  food, 
when  they  left  their  camp  near  the  present  site  of 
Dunkirk.  The  men  who  went  exploring  in  those 
days  had  no  reason  to  expect  luxurious  living.  A  few 
cold  roast  potatoes,  unceremoniously  found  in  a  wig- 
wam from  which  the  owners  were  absent,  were  con- 
sumed with  abundant  relish  at  noon  after  their  long 
fast,  and  no  other  food  was  obtained  until  the  next 
day,  when  they  discovered  St.  Cyr's  cabin  on  Fourth 
Jake.  The  travelers  had  camped  without  supper,  in  a 
ravine  near  where  the  State  University  now  stands. 
The  savory  musk  rat  was  a  treat,  by  comparison  with 
such  short  commons,  and  the  party  started  for  Blue 
Mounds  well  prepared  for  a  journey.  Similar  lodg- 
ings and  fare  would  not  now  be  considered  tempting, 
but  pioneer  life  does  not  encourage  a  too  critical 
taste. 

More  spacious  and  comfortable  quarters  were  to  be 
made  ready  on  the  site  of  Madison  by  Mr.  Eben 
Peck  and  his  wife,  Kosaline.  Two  months  only  had 
elapsed  since  the  second  visit  of  the  surveying  party, 
when  the  Peck  family  started  from  Blue  Mounds  to 
open  a  pioneer  boarding  house  here.  The  snow  had 
not  gone  when  Mr.  Peck  commenced  the  erection  of 
his  premises,  on  land  bought  immediately  after  the 
location  of  the  capitol;  but  Mr.  Catlin  had  already 


28  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

caused  a  log  house  to  be  erected  where  the  post  office 
now  stands.  Owing  to  an  accident,  the  interior  of 
Mr.  Catlin's  house  was  destroyed  by  fire  before  it 
could  be  occupied;  thus  it  happened  that  the  Peck 
hostelry  was  the  first  residence  in  Madison. 

There  were  some  rough  and  ready  specimens  of 
humanity  then  on  hand  in  this  region.  Two  French- 
men, who  had  associated  with  a  party  of  "Winnebago 
Indians  in  the  Blue  Mounds  during  the  winter,  were 
employed  to  build  the  house,  the  work  being  superin- 
tended by  Abraham  Wood,  who  subsequently  put  up 
a  saw  mill  at  Baraboo.  Wood  was  at  that  time  liv- 
ing at  Winnequah,  then  known  as  Strawberry  Point, 
where  he  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  the  son-in- 
law  of  De  Kaury,  son  of  a  Frenchman,  a  Winnebago 
chief.  Wood  bore  an  excellent  reputation,  but  some 
of  his  surroundings  were  very  hard  cases.  One  of 
the  Frenchmen  was  shot,  in  a  dispute  about  land, 
by  Berry  Haney,  a  rival  claimant,  and  generally,  life 
was  but  cheaply  held  in  those  troubled  times. 

Snow  and  the  howling  of  wolves  awakened  Mrs. 
Peck  from  her  slumbers  in  a  tent,  three  miles  from 
Madison,  on  Saturday,  April  15, 1837,  and  she  pushed 
on  through  the  storm  to  the  site  of  her  more  substan- 
tial dwelling,  where  she  sat  down  under  a  tree  in  her 
wagon,  twenty-five  miles  from  the  nearest  white  resi- 
dents at  Blue  Mounds,  and  nearly  one  hundred  miles 
from  the  settlers  at  Milwaukee.  The  building  was 
not  far  enough  advanced  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  the 
hostess,  and  a  temporary  habitation  was  constructed, 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON.  29 

to  serve  until  tlie  larger  place  could  be  comfortably 
floored  and  plastered.  The  little  hotel  was  speedily 
crowded  with  guests.  Milwaukee  and  far  away  New 
York  were  represented  by  visitors,  and  even  England 
had  contributed  its  quota  to  the  roll  of  occupants. 
The  comforts  of  the  establishment  were  substantial 
from  the  first,  although  necessarily  the  bill  of  fare 
consisted  of  such  articles,  as  could  be  transported  from 
considerable  distances;  but  very  soon  the  table  was  a 
marvel  to  beholders,  and  cleanliness,  the  first  requisite 
towards  elegance,  was  a  welcome  feature  from  the 
beginning.  The  grand  dining  room  was  as  well  ven- 
tilated as  the  winds  of  heaven  could  make  it,  the  hos- 
pitable board  being  spread  in  the  open  air  to  meet  the 
requirements  of  some  fifteen  new  arrivals.  Judge 
Doty,  Col.  Brigham  and  Commissioner  Bird,  with 
others  whose  names  are  historical,  were  frequent  visi- 
tors, and  the  unfinished  building  was  tapestried  with 
bed  sheets  to  furnish  sleeping  accommodations.  The 
troubles  incidental  to  pioneer  housekeeping  are  always 
of  interest  to  people  living  in  the  west,  and,  with  few 
exceptions,  the  men  who  sought  accommodation  then 
in  Madison  made  themselves  completely  at  home, 
hunting,  fishing  and  otherwise  during  their  leisure, 
increasing  the  variety  of  the  table.  Judge,  after- 
wards Governor,  Doty  gave  an  excellent  example  of 
helpfulness  by  assisting  a  party  of  amateur  plasterers 
to  make  the  kitchen  habitable,  and  one  day's  work 
under  his  direction  effected  much.  The  cheery  spirit 
thus  indicated  was  worth  more  than  all  the  material 


30  HISTOKY    OF   MADISON. 

aid,  as  it  nerved  the  sturdy  matron  to  master  the  sit- 
uation. Before  long  the  sounds  of  gayety  within  that 
building  would  have  been  a  surprise  to  the  languid 
pleasure  seekers  in  much  more  costly  mansions. 
Really,  at  all  times,  the  pleasure  that  can  be  found  in 
palace  or  cottage  depends  upon  glad  hearts,  and  not 
upon  the  presence  of  luxurious  viands. 

Madison  was  then  so  great  on  various  maps  that  it 
might  well  have  been  matter  for  surprise  that  the. 
legislative  assembly  had  been  convened  for  its  first  ses- 
sion at  Belmont,  and  for  its  subsequent  sessions,  until 
1839,  at  Burlington,  now  in  Iowa;  but,  as  will  readily 
be  understood,  it  is  far  more  easy  to  construct  a  city 
on  paper  than  to  build  one  on  the  solid  earth. "  Castles 
in  the  air  are  very  often  erected  before  breakfast,  but 
there  is  just  one  drawback,  that  nobody  ever  dines  in 
such  structures.  Madison  city  was  then,  vide  pros- 
pectuses, the  metropolitan  center  of  cities,  corres- 
ponding to  the  seven  hills  of  Rome,  when,  in  fact, 
it  was  only  a  village  in  faturo. 

The  beauty  of  the  surrounding  country,  with  its 
twelve  lakes,  might  well  have  concentrated  attention 
upon  Dane  county,  and  the  four  lakes  in  Yahara,  or 
Catfish  valley,  lying  almost  in  a  direct  line  from 
northwest  to  southeast,  could  not  fail  to  be  recognized 
as  the  regal  crown  of  all  this  natural  loveliness.  Ke- 
gonsa,  or  First  Lake,  lowest  of  the  four  bodies  of 
water,  covers  five  square  miles,  having  a  circumfer- 
ence of  nine  miles  and  a  half,  its  longest  diameter 
being  over  three  miles,  and  its  shortest  fully  two. 


ii!  § 

:"-'l'!!|fllllil! 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  33 

Waubesa,  the  Second  Lake,  is  three  miles  and  a  half 
above  Kegonsa,  in  the  towns  of  Dunn  and  Blooming 
Grove.  This  lake  has  an  average  depth  of  twelve 
feet  of  crystal  clear  water,  through  which  the  pebbly 
bottom  can  be  seen  as  if  through  glass.  This  beauti- 
ful sheet  of  crystal  is  three  and  a  half  miles  long  by 
about  two  miles  across.  Monona,  the  lovely  Third 
Lake,  is  only  seven-eighths  of  a  mile  above  Waubesa, 
covering  an  area  of  six  square  miles,  being  six  and  a 
half  miles  long  by  two  broad,  and  the  strip  of  land 
which  divides  this  lake  from  Mendota,  the  Fourth 
Lake,  is  the  site  of  the  capital  of  Wisconsin.  The 
painter's  pencil  can  alone  do  justice  to  the  scene; 
words  fail  to  convey  an  adequate  conception  of  the 
picturesque  effect  which  is  mirrored  to  the  brain,  when 
an  artist  looks  from  the  high  ground,  or  still  better, 
from  the  cupola  of  the  capitol,  upon  the  hills  and 
lakes  which  seem  to  rival  the  loveliness  of  the  moon 
and  stars  in  the  azure  firmament  under  which  they 
are  now  lying  silvered  before  us.  Mendota  is  by  far 
the  largest  of  the  lakes,  as  it  covers  an  area  of  more 
than  twenty  square  miles.  Its  longest  diameter  is 
six  miles,  and  its  breadth  is  fully  four.  Could  the 
whole  of  the  legislature  have  been  brought  to  this 
spot  in  the  spring  or  summer  of  1836,  it  may  be  hoped 
that  there  would  have  been  less  scope  for  the  log- 
rolling process  at  Belmont,  in  the  succeeding  winter, 
which  came  within  one  vote  of  negativing  the  propo- 
sition to  make  Madison  the  capital  of  the  territory; 
but  perhaps  even  then  it  would  hr.-e  been  difficult. 


34  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

The  commissioners  charged  with  the  erection  of  the 
capitol  building,  in  which  the  functions  of  govern- 
ment were  to  be  undertaken,  were  not  dilatory  in 
commencing  their  duties,  and  by  the  tenth  of  June 
there  were  thirty-six  workmen  upon  the  ground,  under 
the  direction  of  Commissioner  Augustus  A.  Bird.  The 
party  had  traveled  with  their  teams  from  Milwaukee, 
making  their  roads  as  they  came,  fording  streams,  and 
threading  their  devious  way  through  occasional 
swamps,  much  of  the  time  under  a  drenching  rain,  for 
just  ten  days,  to  effect  a  transit  which  is  now  daily 
accomplished  in  little  more  than  four  hours.  The  sun 
gleamed  out  once  upon  the  travelers,  and  the  spot, 
made  glorious  by  that  welcome  illumination,  has  ever 
since  been  known  as  Sun  Prairie.  Other  workmen 
speedily  followed,  and  it  is  interesting  to  note,  in  their 
several  narratives,  the  progress  in  settlement  along 
the  traveled  route,  as  the  summer  wore  on.  E^rly  in 
August  there  was  a  log  house  and  an  Indian  camping 
ground  at  Prairieville,  formerly  Prairie  Village,  now 
Waukesha,  and  five  miles  beyond  that  location,  a  log 
house  occupied  by  a  family  named  Pratt,  which  had 
settled  on  160  acres.  Half  a  day's  journey  further 
on,  some  settlers  of  the  name  of  Brown  had  taken  up 
a  quarter  section,  and  about  eight  miles  from  the  lap- 
ids  of  Pock  river,  near  the  site  of  Watertown,  were 
three  brothers  named  Setchell,  preparing  homes  for 
their  families.  A  dam  and  sawmill  were  in  course  of 
erection  at  Water  town,  by  Mr.  Goodhue,  and  at  Lake 
Mills  the  Atwoods   had  made  a  comfortable  abode 


KBN6  STREET. 
(Between  Webster  and  Pinckney  Streets) 

LOOKING     WEST. 


HTSTOET    OF   MADISON.  37 

just  twenty-eight  miles  from  the  capital.  Settlement 
had  made  no  nearer  approach  to  Madison  on 'that  line  of 
road,  but  the  trail  was  well  defined,  and  there  was  no 
difficulty  in  traveling  where  so  many  had  already 
passed.  The  clear  air  of  the  capital,  and  the  bustle 
of  preparation,  must  have  made  the  appetites  of  the 
workmen  keen,  as  the  records  of  the  time  continually 
mention  expeditions  to  Galena  and  elsewhere,  to  re- 
plenish an  often  exhausted  commissariat.  Such  crea- 
ture comforts  as  pork,  flour,  and  some  few  luxuries, 
were  dealt  out  with  no  sparing  hand,  as  all  testimo- 
nies go  to  show. 

The  corner-stone  was  laid  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  capitol,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1837,  and  there  was  no 
lack  of  eloquence  to  celebrate  the  event ;  but  the  press 
was  not  represented  on  the  occasion,  hence  the  speeches 
are  not  recorded.  There  was  another  celebration  in 
November,  when  the  foundation  was  completed  and 
the  stone  work  ceased  for  the  season.  The  money  to 
pay  the  hands  had  to  be  brought  from  Green  Bay; 
and  Mr.  Peck,  wdio  acted  as  courier  in  that  emergency, 
swam  several  of  the  rivers,  so  that  his  wallet  of 
paper  money  was  somewhat  dilapidated  when  he 
reached  home.  By  November,  1S38,  the  assembly 
and  senate  chambers  were  finished,  but  the  plaster- 
ing was  not  dry,  so  that  the  sessions  of  the  legisla- 
ture were  held  for  a  time  in  a  new  building,  the 
American  Hotel,  erected  at  the  corner  of  Piuck- 
ney  street  and  "Washington  avenue,  where  the  Park 
Savings  Bank  now   stands,  by  Mr.  A.  A.  Bird,   the 


38  HISTORY   OF    MADISON. 

contractor  for  the  capitol,  and  his  partner,  Mr.  Mor- 
rison. 

Most  of  the  workmen  erected  their  own  rude  dwell- 
ings in  the  vicinity  of  King  street,  near  the  Third 
lake,  immediately  after  their  arrival ;  but  none  of  the 
buildings  remain  at  this  time.  There  was  a  very 
hearty  and  unanimous  celebration  on  the  4th  of  July, 
1S37,  and  Mrs.  Peck  claims  that  there  were  from  two 
to  three  hundred  persons  present,  including  the  In- 
dian chief,  Little  Dandy  and  his  party;  but  Gen.  Mills 
and  Mr.  Catlin  believe  there  must  have  been  a  misap- 
prehension as  to  the  extent  of  the  gathering.  The 
glorification  lasted  several  days,  and  Madison  has 
never  entered  with  more  general  gusto  upon  the  na- 
tional celebration  than  was  realized  on  that  occasion 
by  the  little  handful  of  white  men  and  their  Indian 
allies.  Probably  some  of  the  confusion  that  was 
subsequently  found  in  the  accounts  of  the  commis- 
sioners was  due  to  the  spirit  that  pervaded  the  first 
and  many  subsequent  convivialities. 

Under  the  act  which  provided  for  the  building  of 
the  capitol,  and  appointed  commissioners  for  the  pur- 
pose, there  was  an  appropriation  of  $20,000,  to  which 
congress  added  a  like  sum,  making  $40,000  in  all. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  legislature  in  the  city  of 
Madison  was  held  in  the  American  Hotel  on  the  26th 
of  February,  1838,  and  Governor  Dodge  delivered  his 
first  message  to  the  legislature  in  Madison  in  that 
building.  A  committee  reported  that  the  hall  and 
council  chamber  would  be  ready  for  the  representa- 
tives and  for  the  senate  on  the  first  day  of  March, 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  39 

and  after  some  little  further  delay  the  rooms  were  ac- 
tually occupied,  but  it  was  an  act  of  hardihood  to  at- 
tempt the  transaction  of  business  under  such  diffi- 
culties. Col.  Childs,  one  of  the  members  who  was 
entrusted  with  the  task  of  carpeting  the  rooms  and 
rendering  them  habitable,  has  left  a  record  of  the 
sad  condition  of  affairs,  in  which  Contractor  Morri- 
son's hogs  were  better  sheltered  than  the  law  makers 
for  "Wisconsin.  If  under  such  circumstances  there 
were  some  efforts  at  log  rolling,  it  may  have  been 
merely  to  maintain  animal  heat,  by  such  exercise. 
The  legislature  adjourned  for  twenty  days,  to  permit 
of  the  hall  and  chamber  being  rendered,  in  some  de- 
gree, warm  and  comfortable.  There  was  a  difficulty 
in  procuring  hotel  accommodation  also,  although 
there  were  now  three  houses  where  guests  could  be 
received.  The  Madison  Hotel  had  two  rooms  that 
would  lodge  four  persons  each;  the  Madison  House 
also  two  rooms  that  would  lodge  six  altogether,  and 
the  American  Hotel  had  eight  rooms,  in  which  twen- 
ty-six members  could  find  accommodation.  The 
prices  charged  were  high  enough  to  satisfy  the  most 
fastidious,  but  in  every  other  respect,  there  was  abun- 
dant room  for  complaint.  Happily  the  pioneers  were 
inclined  to  make  the  best  of  things  .as  they  were,  al- 
though Judge  J.  G.  Knapp  asserts  that  six  men  were 
placed  in  a  room,  only  sixteen  feet  square,  in  the 
Madison  Hotel,  and  that  the  floors  all  over  that  pop- 
ulous establishment  were  nightly  covered  with  shake 
downs,  for  transient  visitors. 


40  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 


CHAPTER  III. 
PIONEERS  AND   CELEBRITIES. 

* 

The  pioneers  of  our  city  were  not  the  first  settlers 
in  the  territory,  now  known  as  Wisconsin,  and  there- 
fore we  shall  look  outside  our  own  borders  to  con- 
struct a  sketch  of  the  early  days,  which  will  connect 
the  house  of  Eben  Peck  and  his  wife  Rosaline,  with 
the  remote  past,  as  well  as  with  the  present.  The 
chief  whose  name  is  spelt  by  different  writers  in  so 
many  differing  ways,  De  Kaury,  Day-Kau-Iiay,  De- 
corrah,  Decori,  and  otherwise,  in  every  manner  that 
will  give  even  an  approximation  to  the  original  sound, 
is  said  to  have  been  the  son  of  a  French  voyageur,  or 
trapper,  who  had  made  his  home  among  the  Indians, 
giving  rise  to  a  succession  of  able  men,  who  were  in- 
fluential in  the  affairs  of  the  tribes.  One  of  that 
family,  a  Winnebago,  surrendered  Black  Hawk  to 
Gen.  Street,  the  Indian  Agent,  at  Prairie  du  Chien, 
after  the  close  of  the  Black  Hawk  war  in  1S32.  The 
Frenchman  Pellkie — whose  name  is  undoubtedly  a 
corruption  from  the  original,  who  assisted  to  build 
the  first  log  house  for  Eben  Peck — was  officered  by 
another  resident  among  the  Indians,  named  Wood, 
afterwards  a  mill  owner,  who  had  married  into  the 
family  of  a  De  Kaury.     Some  exquisite  stories  could 


IIISTOET    OF   MADISON.  41 

be  written  of  the  Four  Lake  country,  connecting  In- 
dians with  white  men,  in  the  days  before  the  city  of 
Madison  was  even  imagined.  One  of  the  De  Kaurvs 
exercised  the  powers  of  a  chief  in  this  immediate  lo- 
cality. Gray-headed  Day-Kau-Ray  or  De  Kaury, 
with  a  considerable  force,  met  Gen.  Atkinson  at 
Portage,  while  Gen.  Dodge  was  in  the  field  during 
the  troubles  preliminary  to  the  war,  which  was  ended 
at  the  Bad  Ax.  They  were  various  in  their  character- 
istics, as  well  as  numerous  and  widely  diffused,  these 
Franco-Indian  warriors  and  sachems.  One-eyed  De 
Kaury  of  La  Crosse  bore  a  good  reputation,  but  an- 
other of  the  family  was  suggestively  described  as 
Rascal  De  Kaury.  Mrs.  Kinzie  says  that  the  mother 
of  the  race,  a  Winnebago,  was  alive  in  1831,  and  sup- 
posed to  be  more  than  a  century  old.  There  were 
four  or  five  brothers,  of  whom  the  Winnebago  chief 
was  one,  and  Washington— or  Wau-kon — De  Kaury 
another.  One  sister  married  a  French  trader  named 
Lecuyer,  another  was  twice  married  to  Canadian 
French  traders,  named  De  Riviere  and  Grignon,  and 
three  married  Indians'.  But  enough  about  the  De 
Kaurys.  They  were  pioneers  in  this  territory,  busily 
en£rao-ed  in  the  war  of  1812  on  the  side  of  the  British, 
and  the  advent  of  white  settlers  was  the  prelude  to 
their  removal  by  death  or  transfer.  Descendants  from 
the  Lecuyer  marriage  were  united  in  wedlock  with 
white  settlers  at  Green  Bay,  and  elsewhere,  and  pros- 
pered according  to  the  customs  of  civilized  life. 
Eben  Peck  and  his  wife  came  to  the  Blue  Mounds, 


42  HISTORY    OF    MADISON.    ' 

where  they  rented  the  tavern  stand  owned  by  Col. 
Brighani,  and  boarded  the  old  colonel  and  the  hands 
employed  by  him.  "While  so  engaged,  Mrs.  Peck  en- 
tertained Judge  and  Mrs.  Doty  on  one  occasion,  and 
the  conversation  turning  upon  Madison,  where  the 
location  of  the  capital  was  yet  recent,  the  judge  and 
his  good  lady  made  a  promise,  which  was  afterwards 
forgotten,  apparently,  that  if  Mrs.  Peck  was  the  first 
to  commence  housekeeping  on  the  village  site,  she 
should  have  the  best  lot  in  the  township,  and  also  a 
present.  Mrs.  Peck  was  the  first  housekeeper,  but  it 
is  probable  that  she  did  not  care  to  recall  the  promise, 
which  in  the  hurry  of  affairs,  at  that  time,  might 
easily  have  been  forgotten  by  Judge  Doty.  Boarding 
houses  must  have  been  expensive  and  troublesome 
institutions  to  run,  in  the  early  days,  as  we  find  that 
flour  fetched  $17  a  barrel  in  Milwaukee  in  1838,  irre- 
spective of  the  cost  of  freight,  in  the  days  when  trav- 
elers made  their  own  routes,  and  carried  axes  along  to 
cut  down  the  timber  that  blocked  their  course.  Pork 
cost  as  high  as  $33  per  barrel,  and  potatoes  $3  per 
bushel ;  add  thereto  the  cost  of  transfer,  and  the  profits 
incidental  to  boarders  must  have  been  whittled  down 
considerably.  Some  courage  was  wanted  then  to  open 
an  establishment,  such  as  the  Peck  family  meant  to 
run,  when  Indian  villages  were  the  only  habitations 
near,  and  deserted  wigwams  along  the  borders  of  the 
lakes  and  streams  told  of  the  red  men  who  had  flour- 
ished and  faded  in  this  locality.  Until  now  the  cabin 
of  Michel  St.  Cyr  had  served  all  the  purposes  of  a 


FfRST  M@OSI  UNI   MftBIS©! 
1837. 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON.  45 

hostelry,  and  the  old  man  had  not  grown  rich  by  en- 
tertaining his  few  and  scattering  guests. 

There  was  certain  to  be  a  much  greater  demand  for 
hotel  accommodation,  because  the  capitol  had  to  be 
soon  erected,  and  visitors  were  sure  to  become  more 
numerous  as  the  works  advanced,  but  the  workmen, 
as  the  event  proved,  would  build  their  own  lodgings 
before  long,  and  make  arrangements  among  them- 
selves about  cooking  provisions.  Travelers  who  came 
to  see  the  country,  to  visit  the  mines,  or  to  see  the 
spots  made  famous  by  engagements  during  the  Black 
Hawk  war  of  five  years  before,  seldom  failed  to  visit 
Madison,  which  had  charms  of  its  own  sufficient  to 
justify  a  detour.  Before  long  there  were  numerous 
hotels  doing  a  prosperous  business  on  the  ground 
which  had  at  first  been  exclusively  possessed  by-Eben 
Peck's  log  house;  and  hundreds  occupied  their  leisure 
in  exploring  the  sparkling  lakes,  skirted  with  every 
kind  of  scenic  beauty.  Groves  and  meadows,  sugges- 
tive of  love  in  a  cottage,  capes,  bluffs,  ravines  and 
prairies,  the  peninsula  itself  with  its  elevation  seventy 
feet  above  the  lakes,  on  which  the  capitol  stands,  now 
in  the  center  of  a  lovely  park,  the  undulating  lines 
descending  thence  to  rise  again  in  numerous  ridges, 
and  most  beautiful  of  all,  in  the  grounds  now  occu- 
pied by  the  university,  offered  variety  enough  to  grat- 
ify the  most  persistent  searcher  after  loveliness.  Mrs. 
Peck  became  the  owner  of  a  canoe  which  had  been 
the  property  of  an  Indian  chief,  and  Cleopatra  never 
enjoyed  her  famous  voyages,  celebrated  by  the  poets, 


•16  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

more  than  did  the  few  who  were  privileged  to  glide 
over  the  lakes  of  crystal  in  that  vessel.  Only  to  see 
that  boat  freighted  with  pleasure  seekers  was  a  delight 
equal  to  all  that  is  realized  by  the  average  looker  on 
in  contemplating  a  regatta.  The  joy  of  the  rowers, 
and  the  charms  of  the  scene  could  not  be  surpassed. 
A  picture  painted  by  C.  A.  Johnson,  a  fine  and  truth- 
ful representation  of  the  first  residence  in  Madison, 
with  the  canoe  in  the  distance,  is  one  of  the  most  val- 
ued properties  of  the  Historical  Society,  and  an  en- 
graving of  that  scene  accompanies  this  sketch.  The 
primitive  looking  dwelling  was  at  one  time  quite  a 
luxurious  abode,  on  Butler  street,  near  the  Lake  House, 
lately  destroyed  by  fire,  not  far  from  the  Third  Lake. 

The  picture  is  a  perfect  reproduction  of  the  reality, 
in  almost  every  detail. 

Professor  Chapman  has  recorded  one  fact  which 
should  long  since  have  been  tested  by  experience,  in 
the  natural  desire  of  the  early  settlers  to  vary  the  sup- 
plies on  their  table.  He  states  on  the  authority  of 
Mr.  Rasdall  that  the  Indians  used  a  root  which  grew 
in  the  marshes,  as  a  substitute  for  potatoes,  called  by 
the  red  men  no-ah-how-in.  It  was  bulbous,  but  did 
not  resemble  arrow  root.  Mr.  Rasdall  said  that  hav- 
ing been  cast  ashore,  without  provisions,  from  Men- 
dota  Lake,  in  1835,  while  arranging  a  trading  estab- 
lishment near  the  First  Lake,  he  had  subsisted  on  the 
root  in  question  for  ten  days.  The  early  settlers  were 
not  very  speculative,  as  it  appears  that  water  for  daily 
consumption  was  brought  from  the  lakes  until  1S30, 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  47 

when  the  first  well  upon  the  plat  was  excavated  on 
the  American  House  lot,  the  labor  being  performed 
by  two  soldiers,  James  ISTevil  and  an  Italian  named 
"Whildean.  Mr.  Darwin  Clark,  onr  fellow  citizen, 
gives  a  vivid  idea  of  the  state  of  society  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1837,  and  while  glancing  thereat,  we  can  un- 
derstand that  a  fully  employed  population,  engaged 
upon  a  task  which  must  be  finished  in  a  hurry,  and 
surrounded  by  hot  blooded  Indians,  had  little  oppor- 
tunity for  making  permanent  improvements,  which 
others  would  probably  enjoy.  That  summer  a  party 
of  Winnebagoes  camped  on  the  shore  of  the  Third 
Lake,  on  the  flat  just  below  the  old  Lake  House. 
During  the  continuance  of  the  encampment,  a  quarrel 
occurred  between  two  young  Indians,  one  of  whom 
stabbed  the  other,  and  from  different  sources  we  learn 
that  the  murderer  sat  on  the  body  of  his  victim  with 
perfect  unconcern,  smoking  his  pipe,  as  though  mod- 
estly disclaiming  special  merit  in  a  very  creditable 
transaction.  The  white  workmen,  who  were  unaccus- 
tomed to  look  upon  murder  with  satisfaction,  were 
much  incensed,  and  by  way  of  warning  that  the  knives 
of  the  red  men  must  not  be  too  freely  brought  in  as 
umpires,  they  carried  their  rifles  and  shot  guns  to  and 
from  their  work.  The  Winnebagoes  took  the  hint  in 
a  proper  spirit,  and  soon  after  left  for  parts  unknown. 
The  Indian  stabbed  as  above  described,  was  the  brother- 
in-law  of  Pellkie's  partner,  another  French  Canadian, 
and,  as  stated  elsewhere,  Pellkie  was  himself  shot  on 
a  subsequent  occasion.    There  were  consequently  other 


48  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

matters  deserving  attention  besides  digging  wells, 
and  seeking  roots  as  substitutes  for  the  potato.  The 
vigorous  action  of  the  volunteers,  who  provided  their 
own  rifles  and  ammunition,  may  have  prevented  worse 
trouble.  Public  o^pMoidh,  speaking  through  the  rifle 
barrel,  was  a  power  which  the  red  skins  did  not  wish 
to  provoke. 

About  two  weeks  after  the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Peck  in 
Madison,  a  party  of  fifteen  men  came  on  from  Mil- 
waukee via  Janesville,  and  the  work  of  the  hostess  be- 
gan in  earnest.  Commissioner  Bird  was  one  of  the  ar- 
rivals, and  he  was  accompanied  by  hired  hands  whose 
work  had  consisted  in  blazing  and  preparing  a  road  by 
which  other  workmen  and  supplies  would  follow.  It 
was  important  that  proper  tracks  should  be  defined 
where  so  much  traffic  must  shortly  occur  and  the  act- 
ing commissioner  was  provident.  The  American 
Hotel,  already  mentioned,  was  built  in  1838,  and  cir- 
cumstances g-ave  that  establishment  an  advantage  over 
all  competitors,  for  a  time.  It  continued  to  be  a  place 
of  considerable  note,  until  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1868.  The  Madison  Hotel  also  dated  from  1838,  but 
the  structure  was  at  first  quite  small.  The  territor- 
ial supreme  court  was  organized  in  this  building,  in 
June,  1838,  and  held  its  first  session  here  when  the 
legislature  assembled  in  the  American  Hotel.  Gov. 
Dodge  and  many  of  the  leading  members  of  both 
houses  made  the  Madison  Hotel  their  headquarters. 
The  structure  belonged  to  Commissioner  Bird,  and  was 
at  first  kept  by  his  brother.    The  long  continued  efforts 


Wttzztfrt; 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  40 

of  the  other  side  to  remove  the  seat  of  government  from 
Madison  found  in  this  building  an  unceasing  watch- 
fulness which  could  not  he  evaded.  There  were  nu- 
merous hosts,  after  the  hotel  passed  out  of  the  hands 
of  the  Bird  family,  and  the  name  was  changed  several 
times,  but  it  was  known  by  the  old  name  at  the  last, 
in  March,  1863.  It  was  situated  on  King  street  on  the 
present  site  of  Dean's  block.  The  establishment  kept 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peck,  has  already  been  mentioned. 
The  new  comers,  whose  names  and  influence  have 
been  beneficially  associated  with  Madison  since  that 
date,  would  defy  enumeration,  but  there  are  some  who 
cannot  be  omitted,  from  a  record,  however  brief,  which 
aims  at  any  measure  of  completeness.  The  scene  en- 
acted in  plastering  the  kitchen  of  the  Peck  boarding 
house,  in  which  Judge  Doty,  Col.  Brigham,  and  all 
the  available  masculinity  of  Madison,  took  part,  is 
historical.  The  pioneers  of  Wisconsin  were  well 
represented  and  well  occirpied  on  that  occasion. 
One  of  the  earliest  visitors  from  abroad,  was  an  Eng- 
lish geologist  named  Featherstonehaugh,  afterwards  a 
British  consul  until  his  death  in  1866,  and  he  pro- 
voked the  ire  of  his  hostess  at  a  later  date,  by  some 
ill-mannered  jokes  and  very  unnecessary  criticisms, 
about  Mrs.  Peck  and  the  accommodations  obtained  in 
her  pioneer  restaurant,  which  Avere  published  by 
him  in  London.  There  is  unexceptional  testimony, 
from  a  witness  no  less  reliable  than  Gen.  Mills,  that 
Mrs.  Rosaline  Peck  made  excellent  coffee,  a  point 
expressly  denied  by  the  earliest  writer  whose  lucu- 
4 


50  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

brations  concerning  Madison,  were  published  in 
Europe.  The  somewhat  vulgar  and  untrustworthy 
book  served  its  purpose  in  procuring  him  a  govern- 
ment appointment  under  the  British  crown,  so  that 
Madison  helped  at  least  one  man  to  fortune. 

Before  the  days  of  Featherstonehaugh,  there  had 
been  celebrities  in  Wisconsin,  and  not  a  few  of  them 
had  stood  where  the  capitol  has  since  been  erected. 
Capt.  Jonathan  Carver  may  have  been  a  visitor  to  this 
precise  locality,  certainly  he  was  for  some  time  in  the 
lake  country.  Gen.  Dodge,  who  came  occasionally 
to  the  capital,  in  discharging  his  official  duties  as 
governor,  was  in  that  way  a  Madisonian,  and  it  is  no 
small  matter  that  we  should  be  identified  with  the 
man  whose  conduct .  of  the  war  did  most  toward 
effecting-  the  defeat  of  Black  Hawk  in  1832.  Col. 
Zachary  Taylor  was  for  some  time  in  command  of  the 
troops  in  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  while  there,  a  young 
lieutenant,  Jefferson  Davis,  was  sparking  the  daughter 
of  the  commandant,  so  that  there  were  two  celebrities 
in  Wisconsin;  the  one  destined  to  become  president  of 
the  United  States,  after  serving  the  country  for  many 
years  in  the  field  with  "rough  and  ready"  effective- 
ness, and  to  die  of  the  turmoil  of  political  life;  the 
other,  to  lose  by  ill-directed  ambition,  the  repute  won 
as  a  soldier,  and  to  find  the  grave  of  his  success  in 
the  presidency  of  the  confederation  whose  ruin  it  was 
his  fortune  to  survive.  Both  officers  rendered  good  ser- 
vice in  the  Black  Hawk  war  until  the  end  was  reached 
in  the  battle  of  the  Bad  Axe  on  the  second  of  August, 


.HISTORY    OF    MADISON".  51 

1'832.  But  for  the  vigor  with  which  the  United  States 
troops  and  volunteers  fought  then,  in  vindication  of 
the  faith  to  be  placed  in  treaties,  and  in  defense  of 
property  and  life,  there  might  have  been  no  Madi- 
son on  this  peninsula.  In  that  sense  the  men  named 
were  pioneers. 

The  Hon.  John  Catlin  was  essentially  among  the 
first  comers.  He  was  one  of  the  party  that  accom- 
panied the  surveyor,  Moses  M.  Strong,  to  survey  and 
plat  the  town,  and  a  lot  purchased  by  himself,  near 
the  present  post  office,  was  utilized  by  him  by  the 
erection  thereon  of  a  log  house,  to  be  used  as  the  post 
office  store.  That  building  was  the  first  erected  in 
Madison,  as  it  was  commenced  some  time  before  Eben 
Peck  began  his  structure;  but  an  accident  destroyed 
the  interior  of  the  building,  a  fire  having  been  by 
some  means  originated,  and  in  consequence  the  prime- 
val log  house  was  not  the  first  residence.  Mr.  Catlin 
was  the  pioneer  par  excellence.  He  was  a  Green 
Mountain  boy,  as  he  came  from  Orwell,  Yermont. 
He"  was  a  partner  with  Mr.  Strong  in  the  law  business 
at  Mineral  Point  in  1836,  and  clerk  of  the  supreme 
court.  He  became  postmaster  in  this  city  in  1837.  Pe- 
moved  from  office  by  Gen.  Harrison,  he  was  reappoint- 
ed by  President  Tyler.  Subsequently  he  served  as 
chief  clerk  of  the  house  of  representatives;  was  district 
attorney  for  Dane  county,  and  judge  at  a  later  date;  in 
1816,  he  became  secretary  of  the  territory.  Mr.  Catlin 
was  a  good  citizen  and  an  able  man  of  business.  He 
died  in  1871. 


52  HISTORY   OF   MADISOX. 

Hon.  Simeon  Mills  ranks  in  the  same  category, 
with  this  difference,  that  he  still  remains  in  our  com- 
munity. Born  in  Norfolk,  Litchfield  county,  Conn.,  in 
February,  1810,  he  is  now  in  his  sixty-seventh  year,  and 
he  has  spent  his  lifetime  in  "Wisconsin  since  attaining 
the  age  of  twenty-five.  Mineral  Point  was  his  first 
abode  in  this  territory,  but  immediately  after  the  loca- 
tion of  the  capital,  he  moved  to  this  city  when  there 
was  only  one  house  upon  the  ground,  and  on  the  10th 
of  June,  1837,  he  commenced  a  small  building  of  hewed 
logs,  in  which  to  begin  business  as  a  storekeeper. 
For  five  years  from  1837,  Mr.  Mills  carried  the  mails 
to  and  from  this  city  for  the  government,  and  about 
the  same  time  the  responsible  duties  of  a  justice  of 
the  peace  were  imposed  upon  him  by  Gov.  Dodge. 
Numerous  offices  of  honor  and  emolument  have  since 
that  date  been  conferred  on  Mr.  Mills.  He  was  one 
of  the  commissioners  for  Dane  county  upon  its  organ- 
ization in  1839;  clerk  of  the  United  States  district 
court;  territorial  treasurer;  first  senator  for  Dane 
county;  one  of  the  regents  engaged  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  state  university,  and  subsequently  pay- 
master general  of  the  state  during  the  war,  from  1861. 
The  record  left  by  Gen.  Mills,  in  every  relation  of  his 
well  spent  life,  reflects  credit  on  one  of  the  oldest 
pioneer  families  in  Dane  county,  and  his  industry  has 
contributed,  in  no  small  degree,  to  the  prosperity  and 
growth  of  the  city. 

Darwin  Clark  came  to  this  city  with  acting  com- 
missioner Bird,  in  the  spring  of  1837,  to  commence 


HISTOP.Y   OF    MADISOX.  53 

work  as  a  cabinet  maker  on  the  capitol,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  been  a  resident  in  Madison,  holding  many 
offices  of  trust  with  honor  to  himself,  and  conducting 
for  many  years  a  very  extensive  business.  He  was 
born  in  Otsego  county,  N".  Y.,  in  May,  1812,  in  which 
state  he  also  married  his  first  wife.  He  set  out  foi 
the  west  when  twenty-five  years  of  age,  to  make  a 
home  where  there  would  be  better  opportunities  than 
in  the  crowded  east.  The  pioneers  had  among  them 
few  more  estimable  men.  A  young  mechanic  of  mark 
in  the  early  days,  when  there  was  only  one  family  in 
Madison,  and  growing  up  with  the  place,  figuring  in 
its  gayeties  in  the  first  New  Year's  festivities,  which 
lasted  two  clays,  a  guest  at  the  first  wedding  when  a 
young  woman  in  Mrs.  Peck's  household  became  the 
wife  of  Jairus  S.  Potter,  his  name  is  interwoven  with 
most  of  the  early  celebrations,  as  well  as  with  many 
later  responsibilities. 

The  community  was  very  limited  when  that  mar- 
riage occurred,  on  the  1st  of  April,  1838,  and  the  bet- 
ter half  was  held  in  high  esteem.  Gen.  Simeon  Mills, 
not  then  holding  military  rank,  but  a  prosperous  store- 
keeper, and  in  office,  rose  betimes  to  gather  an  early 
bouquet  of  wild  flowers  to  grace  the  occasion.  The 
spring,  in  honor  of  the  event  of  course,  came  early,  or 
that  feature  would  have  been  wanting  from  the  festi- 
val. The  wedding  ceremony  was  performed  by  Mr. 
Eben  Peck,  in  his  capacity  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
when  the  dance  followed,  the  better  half  of  the  Peck 
family  played  on  the  violin,  assisted  by  Luther,  her 


54:  IIISTOKY    OF    MADISON. 

husband's  brother,  according;  as  the  exigencies  of  the 
time  demanded.  Mrs.  Peck  played  well,  but  she 
danced  well  also,  and  there  were  so  few  ladies  to  take 
the  floor  that  one  could  hardly  be  spared  to  form  the 
orchestra.  The  disparity  of  the  sexes  was  happily  ex- 
pressed by  Mrs.  Peck:  "You  cannot  call  it  succotash; 
there  was  too  much  corn  for  the  beans."  Both  bride 
and  bridegroom  have  since  passed  away,  but  the  mem- 
ory of  the  event  is  part  of  the  domestic  history  of  the 
city.  Mrs.  Prosper  B.  Bird  was  present,  and  she  yet 
remains  to  honor  and  grace  our  community,  a  living 
memento  of  a  time  from  which  sad  memories,  mingled 
with  few  delights,  yield  a  gentle  perfume  as  of  bruised 
but  never  dying  flowers.  Mr.  Potter  died  in  Madi- 
son, somewhere  about  the  year  1841.  His  wife's 
maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Allen.  There  were  two 
Potters  then  in  the  village,  Jairus,  known  as  "  Long 
Potter,"  for  he  was  a  man  of  great  altitude,  and  Hor- 
ace, whose  more  stunted  proportions  caused  him  to  be 
known  as  "  Short  Potter."  Miss  Allen,  after  consid- 
ering "  the  long  and  the  short  of  it,"  did  not  follow 
the  maxim  "  of  two  evils  choose  the  least,"  conse- 
quently there  was  more  husband  in  her  home  than  in 
any  other  household  near  the  capitol.  Darwin  Clark 
was  good  for  many  things,  besides,  being  good  com- 
pany, in  the  early  days,  as  thank  goodness,  he  still  re- 
mains. In  the  summer  of  1S3T,  when  "Win.  A. 
Wheeler  came  here  to  erect  a  steam  saw  mill  west  of 
the  foot  of  Butler  street,  on  the  bank  of  lake  Mendota, 
the  young  cabinet  maker  was  able  to  give  valuable 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  55 

assistance  toward  the  erection  of  the  works;  and 
although  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  engine  and  ma- 
chinery had  to  be  brought  from  Detroit,  operations 
were  not  commenced  until  nearly  the  end  of  the  year ; 
much  of  the  timber  used  in  the  old  capitol  was  sawed 
in  Wheeler's  mill.  The  McDonalds,  the  Smiths,  and 
others  whose  names  have  escaped  us,  who  mingled  in 
the  throng  when  Commissioner  Bird  and  his  wife  led 
off  in  the  "Virginia  reel "  or  "Hunt  the  squirrel," 
will  never  have  for  us  more  than  a  phantom  existence, 
as  they  "come  like  shadows,  so  depart; "  but  friend 
Clark  is  a  reality. 

The  days  in  which  Judge  Doty,  treasurer  of  the 
board  of  commissioners,  came  in  from  Green  Bay 
with  specie  and  currency  to  pay  the  men,  guarded  by 
( 'apt.  John  Symington  and  a  squad  of  soldiers  from 
Fort  Howard,  were  not  without  their  charm;  more 
especially  when  we  see  the  commissioner  laying  aside 
the  pomp  of  office  to  stand  sponsor  at  the  informal 
christening  of  the  first  white  child  born  in  Madison; 
and  editor  Sholes,  who  wTas  then  in  his  company,  must 
have  been  favorably  impressed  by  our  band  of  pio- 
neers. Some  four  years  later  we  find  the  Hon.  C.  C. 
Sholes  identified  with  the  publication  of  the  Enquin  r 
newspaper,  the  material  of  which  journal  was  eventu- 
ally removed  to  Milwaukee  from  this  city.  Mr. 
Sholes  was  more  actively  identified  with  Kenosha. 
The  name  most  intimately  associated  with  our  early 
press  is  that  of  the  Hon.  George  Hyer;  but  his  work 
in  that  capacity  will  appear   in  reviewing  our  news- 


56  HISTORY    OF   MADISON. 

paper  history.  He  was  one  of  our  pioneers,  and  be- 
fore Madison  was  platted,  he  had  accustomed  himself 
to  thread  his  devious  track  through  the  woods,  having 
on  one  occasion  made  his  way  from  Milwaukee  to 
Green  Bay,  and  on  another  in  1837,  from  the  same 
starting  point  to  Rock  river  settlement,  when  he  was 
specially  sworn  in  by  old  Solomon  Juneau  to  carry 
the  mail. 

In  the  earliest  apportionment  of  offices  for  Dane 
county,  the  name  of  John  S toner  occurs  as  treasurer, 
and  that  of  R.  L.  Ream,  father  of  the  famous  Yinnie 
Ream,  a  Madisonian,  as  register  of  deeds.  Ream 
succeeded  to  the  old  log  house  erected  by  Eben  Peck, 
after  another  residence  had  been  built  for  that  family. 
Geo.  P.  Delaplaine  was  surveyor,  JNL  T.  Parkinson, 
the  first  sheriff,  William  A.  Wheeler,  assessor,  Adam 
Smith,  collector,  and  the  three  commissioners  were, 
Simeon  Mills,  Eben  Peck  and  Jeremiah  Lycan,  with 
LaFayette  Kellogg  for  clerk.  The  father  of  Yinnie 
Ream  assumed  the  management  of  the  pioneer 
"  Tavern  Stand,"  as  Mrs.  Peck  phrases  it,  when  Eben 
and  his  wife  gave  their  attention  to  farming,  unfor- 
tunately for  themselves,  cultivating  a  piece  of  land 
which  had  been  deeded  to  them  by  mistake.  The 
change  was  made  in  the  spring  of  1838,  and  the  birth 
place  of  the  sculptress  was  torn  down  in  1S57,  after 
twenty  years  of  peculiarly  eventful  service.  The  old 
Madison  House,  the  picture  of  which  we  preserve,  was, 
under  the  presidency  named,  the  resort  of  the  aristo- 
cracy of  Wisconsin,  and   it  long  continued  to  be  the 


HIST0KY    OF    MADISON.  57 

stage  house.  According  to  Judge  Knapp,  the  charges 
were  not  very  moderate,  as  "  two  feet  by  six  of  floor 
could  be  had  for  the  night,"  only  upon  payment  of 
"  two  pence  per  square  foot,"  and  "the  weary  traveler 
might  spread  his  own  blanket,  using  his  saddle  or 
portmanteau  for  a  jiillow,  rejoicing  that  he  had  so 
good  a  bed."  The  other  hotels  were  no  more  sump- 
tuous than  Ream's,  as  in  all  of  them,  the  lakes,  the 
woods  and  the  slow  coining  "  prairie  schooner,"  were 
drawn  upon  liberally  to  supply  the  table.  Sleeping 
accommodation  was  at  a  premium  everywhere,  even 
after  the  American  Hotel,  the  largest  on  the  ground, 
was  raised. 

The  first  treasurer  of  Dane  county,  John  Stoner, 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  Maryland,  in  1791, 
consequently,  when  he  died  in  this  city,  in  1872,  he 
was  in  his  eighty-first  year.  He  served  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  was  one  of  the  early  arrivals  in  Madison 
village.  His  pioneer  log  cabin  was  in  the  second 
ward,  abutting  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  church 
of  Norwegian  Lutherans.  The  old  landmarks  are 
nearly  all  effaced,  so  far  as  they  were  raised  by  men 
in  the  springs  and  summers  of  1837-8.  The  log  house 
on  the  marsh  is  gone,  the  first  frame  house  built  in 
the  city  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Wilson  and  Pinck- 
ney  street,  for  J.  S.  Schermerhorn,  has  given  place  to 
a  large  two  story  brick  dwelling.  The  old  steam  mill 
on  the  bank  of  the  lake  is  so  entirely  gone  that  it  is 
not  easy  to  find  even  a  trace  of  its  foundations.  A 
grey  sandstone  slab,  erected  to  mark  the  spot  where  a 


58  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

carpenter  named  S.  Warren  was  buried  in  1S3S,  hav- 
ing been  killed  by  lightning  in  that  summer,  cannot 
be  found. 

"  Chief  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Seymour,"  who  is 
mentioned  in  a  very  pleasant  and  appreciative  way 
in  "  Reminiscences  of  Madison,"  by  Judge  Knapp, 
loomed  large  in  our  early  days,  at  once  a  pioneer  and 
a  celebrity.  Mrs.  Peck  mentions  him  as  possessed  of 
a  feather  bed,  once  her  property,  and  containing 
"  over  thirty  pounds  of  fresh  geese  feathers,"  so  that 
he  had  ideas  of  luxury.  Judge  Pratt  says,  that  "  his 
pipe  was  part  of  the  man;  with  that  in  his  mouth,  he 
was  clerk  in  the  commissioners'  store,  kept  books, 
dealt  out  silks  and  dry  goods,  tea  and  powder;  was 
surveyor  of  the  town  plat,  only  he  read  the  degrees 
and  minutes  at  the  wrong  end  of  the  needle;  tried 
causes,  civil  and  criminal,  administered  justice,  min- 
gled largely  with  equity  and  common  sense.  .  . : .  .  All 
knew  he  was  the  Gazette,  the  very  latest  edition,  and 
he  had  under  his  special  care  all  the  affairs  of  town, 

state  and  church A  dreadful    sickness  came 

upon  him  and  Seymour  lost  Lis  pipe,  the  city  losing 
its  best  guardian."  Gov.  Dodge  appointed  Seymour 
justice  of  the  peace,  upon  the  recommendation  of  Eben 
Peck,  when  Dane  county  was  organized,  and  the  com- 
missioners set  about  bridging  the  Cattish,  and  erect- 
ing the  jail,  reducing  "  the  bounty  on  wolves'  scalps," 
to  render  their  funds  available  for  such  works  as  have 
been  suggested.  "Win.  IS.  Seymour  published  a  direc- 
tory of  Madison,  a  copy  of  which  is  in  the  hands  of 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  59 

the  Historical  Society.  He  has  lived  to  see  several 
other  works  of  a  similar  character,  but  none  of  them 
mure  interesting  than  his  own.  The  stroke  of  paraly- 
sis under  which  he  fell  in  November,  1S59,  has  not 
deprived  him  of  the  satisfaction  of  witnessing  the 
steady  growth  of  the  city,  the  infant  steps  of  whose 
village  days  were  in  part  guided  by  himself.  His 
form  is  well  known  on  the  streets,  and  most  of  the 
old  pioneers  can  tell  of  some  good  deed  in  his  career, 
which  retains  for  him  a  pleasant  place  in  their  mem- 
ories. The  Masonic  fraternity  stood  by  the  "Chief 
Justice  of  the  Peace  "  in  his  affliction,  and  by  their 
aid  he  is  comfortably  circumstanced. 

Gen.  Geo.  P.  Delaplaine  was  county  surveyor.  "We 
find  him  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  1839,  reading  the 
Jeffersonian  Declaration,  when  William  T.  Sterling 
was  Orator  of  the  day,  and  the  music  on  the  occasion 
was  anything  but  first  class.  The  dinner  that  day 
c<  nsisted  of  bacon  and  fish,  with  the  addition  of  much 
whisky.  Customarily  the  dinner  comprised  fish  and 
bacon  with  less  whisky.  The  celebration  lasted 
three  days.  The  pioneer  Geo.  P.  Delaplaine  came 
from  Milwaukee  to  clerk  in  Jas.  Morrison's  store,  and 
his  ability  no  less  than  his  high  character  soon  made 
him  master  of  the  situation.  His  name  stands 
honorably  identified  with  most  of  the  movements  in 
early  days  for  the  advantage  of  Madison.  Another 
of  the  early  pioneers  whose  life  has  been  honorable  to 
the  community,  although  there  are  no  brilliant  deeds 
to  be  pointed  to  in  his  career,  is  Mr.  E.  M.  Williamson, 


60  HISTOKY    OF    MADISON. 

of  Pinckney  street,  one  of  our  earliest  school  teachers, 
and  identified  with  the  establishment  of  the  Episco- 
pal church,  which  will  be  found  more  particularly 
mentioned  elsewhere.  Many  names  that  should  have 
had  notice  have  been  omitted,  but  that  is  inevitable 
because  of  our  limitations.  The  position  and  labors 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peck  have  already  been  briefly  indi- 
cated. Eben  Peck  started  overland  to  California 
when  the  gold  fever  spread  over  this  western  country, 
and  it  is  supposed  that  he  was  slain  by  the  Indians  on 
the  plains,  but  there  is  no  record  of  his  death,  and  it 
is  claimed  that  he  was  heard  from  at  a  later  date. 
His  wife,  a  brave  and  able  woman,  has  written  many 
piquant  papers,  descriptive  of  pioneer  life,  in  which 
her  own  experiences  made  her  proficient.  In  her 
house  the  earliest  visitors  to  Madison  found  a  home, 
in  her  dining  room  the  gayeties  of  several  seasons 
found  their  earliest  expression.  Her  husband  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock  the 
first  couple  lawfully  married  in  this  city,  and  after 
the  irrevocable  knot  had  been  tied,  as  we  have  seen, 
the  violin  of  the  justice's  lady  gladdened  the  hearts 
of  the  assembled  throng  while  they  threaded  the 
mazes  of  the  dance.  In  the  old  log  house  was  born 
Miss  Wisconsiana  Victoria  Peck,  the  first  child  that 
saw  the  light  in  this  city,  concerning  whose  christen- 
ing some  particulars  are  given.  Mrs.  Peck  and  her 
husband  were  the  pioneer  settlers,  and  subsequently 
the  lady  became  the  first  settler  in  Baraboo,  where 
she  still  resides. 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON.  61 

Mrs.  Prosper  Burgoyne  Bird,  formerly  Miss 
Hewitt,  another  of  our  pioneers,  came  of  good  revolu- 
tionary stock,  and  was  one  of  the  most  valued  of  our 
early  residents.  Her  husband  built  a  house  for  her 
in  this  city,  while  she  remained  in  Milwaukee.  There 
was  only  one  house  in  Janesville  when  the  lady  came 
through  to  her  destination.  The  party  had  seen 
enough  of  pioneer  life  to  have  discouraged  most 
people,  before  they  left  Milwaukee.  While  they 
were  neighbors  of  "  Old  Solomo,"  as  the  Indians  al- 
ways called  Col.  Juneau,  they  witnessed  an  election, 
in  which  the  principal  argument  used  in  favor  of  the 
successful  ticket  was  a  dipper  placed  in  a  barrel  of 
whisky,  by  the  founder  of  the  Cream  City.  The  po- 
tency of  such  logic  was  manifested  in  the  fact  that  a 
sober  man  could  hardly  be  found  in  the  settlement  at 
the  close  of  the  dav.  The  first  boat  launched  on  Lake 
Michigan,  "The  Juneau,"  kissed  the  water  while 
Mrs.  Bird  was  remaining  in  Milwaukee.  The  party 
set  out  on  their  road  altogether,  but  at  the  last  mo- 
ment Mr.  Bird,  having  business  to  transact  on  account 
of  the  capitol,  for  the  building  of  which  his  brother  was 
acting  commissioner,  returned  to  the  village,  leaving 
his  courageous  wife  to  prosecute  the  journey  without 
his  guidance,  until  sundown  the  following  day.  The 
ferryman  at  Janesville  was  not  at  home,  so  the  little 
band  went  round  by  Beloit,  where  there  were  two 
log  houses,  one  on  each  side  of  the  river.  The  home 
provided  for  their  accommodation  was  an  uninclosed 
frame  building,  on  the  street  now  known  as  Webster 


62  HISTORY    OF   MADISON. 

street,  on  lot  eight,  and  the  building  was  not  com 
jdeted  until  April,  1838.  During  part  of  the  inter- 
val, Mrs.  Bird  resided  in  a  log  house  on  the  site 
where  Kentzler's  livery  stable  now  stands,  and  after- 
wards moved  into  the  old  log;  boarding  house  near 
Mr.  Pyncheon's  residence.  There  were,  when  Mrs. 
Bird  arrived  in  the  village,  only  four  log  houses; 
that  built  for  Mr.  Catlin,  and  partly  consumed 
by  tire;  that  occupied  by  Mrs.  Peck,  and  known 
long  after  as  the  Madison  House;  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Stoner,  already  mentioned;  and  one  other  of 
less  note.  Such  an  addition  to  the  village  was  im- 
portant. 

The  workmen  engaged  upon  the  capitol-  boarded 
with  the  newly  arrived  housekeeper,  and  there  were 
rough  times  and  hard  work  for  all  hands  when  she 
began  her  pioneer  experience  in  this  locality.  In 
Mrs.  Bird's  mother's  home  the  first  death  in  the  new 
settlement  occurred  from  typhoid  fever,  and  the  second 
happened  from  her  own  house  haying  been  struck  by 
lightning,  The  cemetery  then  in  use  forms  now  a 
part  of  the  university  grounds.  The  Bird  family 
was  one  of  the  most  numerous  and  energetic  among 
the  pioneers,  but  a  volume  would  be  required  to  re- 
cord their  several  fortunes  and  adventures. 

Col.  Wm.  B.  Slaughter,  whose  eloquence  is  still  the 
pride  of  his  fellow  townsmen,  was  born  in  1797,  in 
Culpepper  county,  Virginia,  and  came  to  reside  in 
Green  Bay  in  1835,  where  he  was  appointed  register 
of  the  land  office.     While  serving  as  a  member  of  the 


IIISTOKY    OF    MADISON.  63 

legislative  council  of  Michigan,  winch  assembled  at 
Green  Bay  in  the  winter  of  that  year,  he  initiated  the 
memorial  for  the  organization  of  Wisconsin.  About 
the  same  date,  he  entered  the  lot  held  by  St.  Cyr,  near 
this  city,  and  gave  the  half-breed  $200  for  his  im- 
provements. When  the  capital  was  located,  he  made 
his  residence  where  the  City  of  the  Four  Lakes  was 
platted  by  M.  L.  Martin,  Judge  Doty  and  himself, 
and  continued  a  resident  until  1845,  when  Virginia 
attracted  him  to  his  old  home.  On  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war,  the  colonel  was  appointed  commis- 
sary and  quarter-master  by  the  president;  and  now, 
nearly  eighty  years  of  age,  he  is  one  of  the  most 
active  and  intellectual  of  the  residents  in  this  city. 
There  are  but  few  men  to  be  found  who,  from  their 
personal  experience,  know  more  about  Madison  from 
the  beginning.  Soon  after  the  capitol  was  commenced, 
and  when  Commissioner  Bird's  residence  was  small 
and  cold,  Sheriff  Childs  from  Green  Bav  mentions  a 
visit  to  Col.  Wm.  B.  Slaughter's,  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  Fourth  Lake,  near  Pheasant  Branch.  Lung  before 
this  time,  all  the  land  business  of  the  territory  had 
passed  through  the  colonel's  hands  at  Green  Bay. 
When  the  location  of  the  capital  was  under  debate, 
and  long  before  it  came  to  the  vote,  Col.  Slaughter 
made  arrangements  with  St.  Cyr,  under  which  the 
half-breed  enabled  the  colonel  to  enter  the  tract  in 
the  summer  or  autumn  of  1835,  and  he  subsecmently 
conveyed  an  interest  to  Judge  Doty,  with  the  hope 
that  the  capital  would  be  there  located.     The  arrange- 


61  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

ment  witli  Gov.  Mason  of  Michigan,  and  the  purchase 
of  the  peninsula  for  $1,500,  wrecked  Col.  Slaughter's 
project,  seeing  that  he  was  absent  in  the  south  while 
the  session  was  being  held  at  Belmont,  upon  which 
the  location  turned.  Sheriff  Childs,  already  men- 
tioned, says  that  the  votes  which  determined  the  mat- 
ter were  those  cast  by  representatives  who  knew  that 
their  several  localities  would  be  erected  into  a  distinct 
territory  soon  afterwards.  Iowa  had  six  councilmen 
and  representatives,  so  that  the  influence  of  the  out- 
siders really  determined  the  issue,  and  the  country 
west  of  the  Mississippi  was  separately  organized  with 
little  delay.  Childs  says  that  the  town  plat  of  Madi- 
son was  divided  into  twenty  shares,  and  that  he  was 
offered  one  share  for  $200,  apparently  with  the  hope 
that  he  would  in  that  way  be  induced  to  vote  for  the 
location.  His  Roman  virtue  was  equal  to  the  emer- 
gency, and  Green  Bay  was  pleased  with  the  course 
taken  by  him.  Col.  Slaughter's  site  had  been  very 
wisely  chosen,  upon  the  historical  ground  where  Gen. 
Dodge  held  his  "  talk"  with  the  Winnebagoes,  when 
the  Black  Hawk  war  had  begun,  and  after  Stillman 
had  sustained  his  defeat. 

Josiali  A.  Koonan  did  not  come  to  our  territory 
until  the  year  1837,  and  in  1810,  removed  to  Milwau- 
kee, whence,  still  later,  he  migrated  to  Chicago  to 
take  charge  of  the  Industrial  Age;  but  as  the 
founder  of  the  first  newspaper  issued  in  this  city,  the 
Wisconsin  Enquirer,  he  must  have  a  place  among 
our  pioneers.     The  first  press  and  printing  materials 


HISTOKY   OF   MADISON.  65 

bought  for  this  enterprise,  "were  thrown  overboard,  off 
Mackinaw,  in  Lake  Huron,  in  a  storm,  on  the  voyage 
from  Buffalo  to  Green  Bay,  and  in  consequence  the 
Racine  Argus,  with  its  material,  was  purchased 
and  removed,  to  do  duty  in  the  capital.  The  paper 
was  published  on  King  street,  in  a  room  over  the 
commissioners'  store,  and  eventually  some  of  the 
ablest  journalists  in  the  state  were  identified  with  its 
career.  C.  C.  Sholes  became  a  partner  in  the  paper 
in  1839,  as  is  elsewhere  mentioned,  and  it  lived  until 
June,  1843,  taking  an  active  part  in  all  public  affairs 
until  its  death.  Judge  Knapp  was  for  some  time  its 
editor.  That  gentleman  has  left  on  record  a  brief 
description  of  the  Fourth  of  July  celebration  in  1839, 
and  according  to  his  winged  words,  there  was  no  lack 
of  spirit  among  the  celebrants.  There  was  an  oration, 
and  the  declaration  in  proper  order,  but  a  liberal  sup- 
ply of  "Pecatonica"  and  "Bock  River,"  the  latter  a 
peculiarly  strong  water,  with  an  orchestra  consisting 
of  two  violins  and  a  flute,  filled  every  soul  with  mar- 
tial music.  A  fat  steer  which  had  been  brought  to 
grace  the  tables  of  the  citizens  on  the  Fourth,  was 
forgotten  until  three  days  later,  when  the  keg  was 
empty,  and  there  was  then  but  little  superfluous  fat 
upon  the  bones  of  the  delayed  sacrifice.  It  must  not 
be  supposed  that  all  the  citizens  were  affected  by  "  old 
rye,"  but  the  carrier,  who  had  brought  the  steer,  had 
kept  the  secret  of  its  whereabouts,  until  his  senses 
were  sobered  by  the  emptying  of  the  keg. 
Abel  Rasdall  cannot  be  utterly  omitted  from  a 
5 


6Q  HISTORY   OF   MADISON. 

record  of  our  pioneers ;  his  bravery  during  the  troubles 
and  his  good  faith  at  all  times,  entitle  him  to  be  men- 
tioned, but  he  has  been  referred  to  at  large  in  the  first 
chapter,  as  will  be  remembered. 

The  schoolmaster  was  in  request,  but  the  number 
of  pupils  was  not  great.  Mr.  Edgar  S.  Searle  taught 
school  in  the  summer  of  1839,  and  was  followed  by 
Mr.  E.  M.  "Williamson,  mentioned  among  our  pio- 
neers, who  had  six  pupils.  Mr.  "Williamson  taught 
at  the  corner  of  Pinckney  and  Dayton  streets,  one 
term,  in  a  very  primitive  building.  In  the  winter  of 
1842-3,  Mr.  Theodore  Conkey  also  taught.  Miss 
Pierce  was  at  the  same  time  engaged  in  the  tui- 
tion of  girls  in  an  old  building  near  the  spot  where 
Dean's  block  is  now  standing.  Another  step  in  the 
same  direction,  aiming  at  the  improvement  of  adults, 
was  an  association  for  church  purposes,  entered  into 
in  July,  1839.  The  instrument  of  association  indi- 
cated the  establishment  of  a  parish  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  as  the  object  of  the  members. 
There  were  sixteen  signatures  to  the  document.  The 
first  Sunday  school  was  also  started  about  this  time 
and  conducted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  Presbyterian 
clergyman.     It  was  held  in  the  capitol. 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  G7 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE    STATE    UNIVEESITY. 

The  example  set  by  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  in  1636, 
in  preparing  for  the  foundation  of  Harvard,  less  than 
sixteen  years  after  their  landing  on  this  continent,  has 
been  fruitful  in  suggesting  like  works  all  over  the 
Union.  An  endowment  of  public  lands  for  a  sem- 
inary in  Wisconsin  was  provided  by  an  act  of  con- 
gress which  was  approved  on  the  the  12th  of  June, 
1838.  The  land  thus  given  amounted  to  46,080  acres. 
Prior  to  the  passage  of  the  congressional  act,  and  an- 
ticipating its  provisions,  the  territorial  legislature,  in 
January,  1838,  prepared  to  incorporate  the  University 
with  all  the  powers  and  limitations  common  to  such 
institutions. 

The  first  quorum  of  the  board  of  visitors  stands  on 
record  as  having  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  Decem- 
ber 1,  1838,  when  Henry  L.  Dodge  and  John  Catlin 
were  chosen  treasurer  and  secretary.  Col.  Slaughter 
was  one  of  the  most  active  members,  and  the  requisite 
steps  devolving  upon  the  board  were  fulfilled.  Re- 
gents were  appointed,  and  an  act  was  passed  specifi- 
cally incorporating  the  University,  immediately  after 
the  inauguration  of  the  state  government,  in  1848. 

The  first  board  consisted  of  John  Bannister,  Hirtim 


68  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

Barber,  Alex.  L.  Collins,  Julius  T.  Clark,  Henry 
Bryan,  Edw.  Y.  Whiton,  John  H.  Rountree,  Eleazer 
Root,  Simeon  Mills,  Bufus  King,  Tlios.  W.  Suther- 
land and  Cyrus  "Woodman.  Four  of  the  members 
were  nominated  for  six  years,  and  the  others  were  ap- 
pointed, four  for  four  years  and  four  for  two  only; 
their  successors  thereafter  to  hold  office  for  six  years. 
Part  of  the  land  of  the  University  was  purchased  from 
Mr.  Aaron  Vanderpool  of  New  York,  on  the  17th  of 
October,  1848,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  legisla- 
ture; and  a  building  in  the  village  of  Madison,  erected 
as  a  private  venture  for  the  purposes  of  an  academy, 
having  been  tendered  to  the  regents,  rent  free,  by  the 
citizens,  it  was  determined  to  open  the  "  department 
of  science,  literature,  and  the  arts,"  by  means  of  a 
preparatory  school,  on  the  first  Monday  in  February, 
1849,  under  the  superintendence  of  Prof.  John  ~W. 
Sterling.  The  next  step  was  the  election  of  John  H. 
Lathrop,  LL.  D.,  as  chancellor  of  the  University,  at  a 
salary  not  to  exceed  $2,000.  The  preparatory  school 
was  opened  at  the  time  named,  with  twenty  pupils 
under  Professor  Sterling  and  Chancellor  Lathrop. 
The  cabinet  of  natural  history  was  formed  by  Horace 
A.  Tenney,  who  rendered  his  services  as  agent  free  of 
cost,  and  gave  excellent  aid  to  the  institution  at  all 
times. 

The  formal  inauguration  of  the  chancellor  took 
place  on  the  16th  of  January,  1850,  and  buildings 
were  erected,  the  north  dormitory  in  the  following 
year  and  the  south  dormitory  in  1854,  from  the  in- 


HISTORY   OF   MADIS03ST.  69 

come  of  the  University  fund.  In  the  same  year  the 
first  class,  consisting  of  Levi  M.  Booth  and  Chas.  T. 
"Wakeley,  graduated. 

The  intention  of  congress  in  granting  a  liberal  en- 
dowment of  public  lands  to  the  University  was  to  a 
great  extent  defeated  by  manipulations  in  the  legis- 
lature, under  which  the  lands  were  appraised  at  very 
inadequate  prices,  and  so  passed  into  the  hands  of 
speculators  and  others,  who  became  the  recipients  of 
advantages  which  should  permanently  have  assisted 
the  intellectual  culture  of  the  community.  Under 
such  injurious  action  on  the  part  of  honorable  mem- 
bers, some  of  the  best  lands  in  the  state  were  pre- 
empted, or  otherwise  obtained,  at  less  than  one-fourth 
of  their  actual  value,  and  the  authorities  of  the  Uni- 
versity were  powerless  to  defend  the  interests  entrust- 
ed to  their  charge.  The  fund  necessary  for  Univer- 
sity purposes  being  thus  rendered  inadequate,  con- 
gress was  once  more  approached,  and  mainly  in  con- 
sequence of  the  exertions  of  Gen.  Simeon  Mills,  a 
further  grant  of  seventy-two  sections  was  obtained.  Mr. 
Tenney,  already  favorably  known  by  his  services,  se- 
lected the  lands  thus  given  for  the  purposes  of  learn- 
ing. The  selections  made  by  Mr. -Tenney  were  among 
the  choicest  lands  in  the  state,  and  although  there  was 
some  delay  in  reporting  them  at  Washington,  in  con- 
sequence of  which  private  parties  procured  many  of 
the  best,  other  lands  fully  equal  were  eventually  pro- 
cured. Once  more  the  legislature  using  its  powers 
defeated  the  express  design  of  the  endowment,  by  ap- 


70  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

praising  tlie  picked  lands  of  the  state  at  $3.00  per 
acre,  reducing  a  property  which  was  well  worth 
$500,000  to  a  selling  value  of  only  $138,240.  Even 
then  the  designs  of  the  manipulators  were  not  ex- 
hausted, as  it  was  found  that  by  pushing  the  lands  into 
sale  by  auction,  away  from  the  centers  of  population, 
still  lower  prices  could  be  made  to  rule,  and  yet  the 
representations  made  by  the  institution  were  without 
avail.  Even  worse,  during  the  summer  session  of  1854 
a  bill  was  hurried  through  one  house,  and  came  very 
near  passing  the  other,  under  which  all  the  lands 
sold,  and  to  be  sold,  in  the  interests  of  the  State  Uni- 
versity, some  of  which  ranged  as  high  as  $30.00  per 
acre  in  value  in  open  market,  should  be  subject  to 
patent  at  $1.25,  and  that  all  moneys  already  paid  in 
excess  of  that  amount  should  be  refunded.  A  propo- 
sition more  shameful  was  never  submitted  to  a  legis- 
lature; but  Mr.  Tenney,  then  reporting  in  the  house, 
and  a  number  of  members  acting  with  him,  by  whom 
he  was  called  upon  for  a  statement,  only  succeeded  in 
defeating  the  nefarious  project  by  two  votes.  Two 
purposes  were  served  by  the  members  who  voted  for 
the  despoilment  of  the  University:  one,  the  enrich- 
ment of  individual  speculators,  and  the  other  and 
more  justifiable  design  was  the  encouragement  of 
immigration.  Precisely  similar  tactics  were  pursued 
when  the  Agricultural  College  act  was  passed  by 
congress  in  1862;  but  no  good  purpose  can  be  served 
by  recapitulating  discreditable  details.  The  Regents 
of  the  University  faithfully  discharged  their  duties 


HISTORY   OF   MADISON.  71 

in  the  premises,  and  at  length,  in  1872,  procured  the 
passage  of  an  act  granting  from  the  state  a  sum  of 
$10,000  per  annum,  as  compensation  to  the  Univer- 
sity. That  amount  was  not  an  equivalent  for  the  loss, 
but  it  was  something  to  have  procured  a  recognition 
of  the  principle,  that  the  lands  granted  by  the  federal 
government  for  purposes  of  education,  should  not  have 
been  sacrificed  in  pursuance  of  personal  gain,  or  in 
carrying  out  schemes  to  promote  immigration,  in  the 
lower  interests  of  the  territory  and  state. 

The  legislature  acted  for  some  considerable  time 
as  though  the  funds  accruing  from  the  sales  of  land 
granted  for  the  University  by  congress  were,  in  fact, 
taxes  levied  upon  the  state,  and  in  consequence  there 
were  dark  days  and  great  causes  for  discontent  among 
the  promoters  of  learning  in  this  city;  but  thanks  to 
a  more  enlightened  spirit  which  now  prevails  among 
the  directors  of  the  press  of  the  state,  and  in  the  main, 
among  the  people  at  large,  a  better  understanding  has 
been  reached.  The  fact  that  the  University  was  doing 
its  best  under  the  disadvantages  incidental  to  want 
of  funds,  during  the  dark  and  troubled  times,  is  now 
admitted  on  all  hands;  and  it  is  too  apparent  to  re- 
quire comment,  that  the  cause  of  that  poverty  con- 
sisted in  the  breach  of  trust  of  which  legislators  were 
guilty.  A  bill  aiming  at  the  reorganization  of  the 
University  was  introduced,  and  came  near  passing 
both  houses  of  the  legislature  in  1858.  The  chan- 
cellor of  the  institution,  taking  up  the  leading  ideas 
of  that  measure,  carried  out  most  of  the  proposed  al- 


72  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

terations  during  the  same  year,  with  the  concurrence 
of  the  board  of  regents.  Chancellor  Lathrop  sug- 
gested the  several  changes  apparently  demanded  by 
the  public,  and  in  pursuance  of  the  change,  resigned 
his  position  as  chancellor,  which  was  afterwards  filled 
by  Henry  Barnard,  LL.  D.,  who  united  therewith  the 
duties  of  professor  of  normal  instruction.  Chancellor 
Lathrop  was  elected  professor  of  ethical  and  political 
science,  but  he  subsequently  resigned  his  office,  and 
was  reelected  to  the  position  he  had  previously  filled 
as  president  of  the  University  of  Missouri.  Beyond 
doubt,  that  gentleman  fell  a  sacrifice  'to  circum- 
stances not  properly  chargeable  to  himself;  but  his 
retirement,  and  the  change  of  administration  conse- 
quent thereupon,  permitted  the  complete  establish- 
ment of  a  good  understanding  between  the  people 
and  their  most  valuable  institution.  The  new  scheme 
originated  by  the  retiring  chancellor  was,  in  effect,  a 
full  recognition  of  the  right  of  the  people  to  control 
the  University,  and  it  devolved  upon  them  the  fullest 
share  of  responsibility. 

Chancellor  Barnard  was  unable  to  attend  to  the 
duties  to  which  he  had  been  called,  thus  the  scheme 
which  was  to  have  united  the  University  with  the 
normal  school  system  of  the  state  failed  completely. 
Eventually,  in  consequence  of  continued  ill  health,  his 
resignation  was  accepted  in  January,  1861.  The  civil 
war,  and  the  stress  upon  every  department  of  the  state, 
joined  to  the  diminution  of  the  number  of  students, 
rendered  a  reduction  of  expenditures  inevitable.    Pro! 


HISTORY   OF   MADISOS".  73 

Jolm  "W.  Sterling  was  made  deau  of  the  faculty,  with 
the  powers  of  chancellor,  and  schemes  of  retrenchment 
were  adopted  which  enabled  the  University  to  continue 
its  operations,  without  asking  aid  from  the  legislature, 
during  the  war.  The  University  was  largely  repre- 
sented in  the  army,  and  a  military  company  was 
formed  among  the  students,  which  has  eventuated  in 
the  establishment  of  a  military  department,  giving 
effect  to  an  excellent  suggestion  made  to  the  re- 
gents by  the  faculty.  The  drill  undertaken  to  secure 
military  efficiency  has  conferred  mental  as  well  as 
physical  vigor.  In  the  year  1864,  all  the  class  was  in 
the  field,  and  for  the  first  time  during  ten  years,  there 
was  no  commencement. 

A  normal  department  was  opened  in  1863,  under 
the  care  of  Prof.  C.  H.  Allen,  and  the  result  was  in  every 
way  satisfactory.  The  apprehension  commonly  ex- 
pressed, that  the  introduction  of  ladies  would  lower  the 
standard  of  culture,  has  been  proved  groundless.  Prof. 
Pickard  succeeded  to  the  control  of  that  department 
in  1866,  when  the  "female  college"  was  established, 
which  continued  until  1873,  since  which  time  all  de- 
partments of  the  University  have  very  properly  been 
thrown  open  to  both  sexes,  without  those  invidious 
distinctions,  which  too  long  have  evidenced  the  want 
of  genuine  culture  among  men. 

Gifts  made  to  the  institution  by  generous  citizens, 
have  done  much  to  increase  its  efficiency.  Gov.  Jas. 
T.  Lewis  made  a  donation  to  enable  the  board  of 
regents  to  bestow  an  annual  prize.     The  amount  was 


74  HISTORY   OF   MADISON. 

only  $200,  but  the  regents  having  invested  the  fund, 
were  enabled  in  June,  1874,  to  offer  a  prize  of  $20, 
which  sum  is  to  be  awarded  every  year,  under  the 
name  of  "  the  Lewis  prize,"  to  the  writer  of  the  best 
essay,  received  in  the  competition  of  that  year.  The 
Scandinavian  library,  known  as  u  Mimers  library," 
was  a  contribution  from  private  individuals  in  1868, 
through  the  agency  of  Prof.  B,.  B.  Anderson.  The  col- 
lection now  aggregates  about  one  thousand  volumes  of 
Scandinavian  literature,  and  its  value  can  hardly  be 
stated.  The  world-famous  Ole  Bull  was  induced  by 
Mr.  Anderson  to  increase  the  library  fund  by  giving 
a  concert  in  the  assembly  chamber,  and  the  sum  thus 
obtained  was  very  advantageously  expended  in  Nor- 
way by  the  professor,  who  made  a  voyage  thither  in 
1872  for  the  purpose,  and  procured  at  the  same  time 
valuable  contributions  from  some  of  the  ablest  pro- 
fessors and  most  distinguished  Norwegian  scholars. 
The  books  obtained  by  the  several  means  indicated 
render  the  Scandinavian  library  one  o'f  the  best  in  the 
United  States.  The  "  Johnson  student's  aid  fund  " 
was  in  part  due  to  the  same  agency.  The  sum  given 
by  the  Hon.  John  A.  Johnson,  some  time  senator  for 
this  district,  is  $5,000,  the  interest  of  which  is  to  be 
applied  from  the  time  of  the  donation,  1876,  until  the 
end  of  the  present  century,  to  assist  indigent  Scandi- 
navian students,  with  sums  not  to  exceed  $50  per  an- 
num in  any  individual  case,  nor  to  aggregate  more 
than  $200  in  the  aid  afforded  to  one  person;  with  this 
further  proviso,  that  in  every  case  the  student  assisted 


HISTORY   OF   MADISON.  77 


shall  understand  that  the  advance  is  a  loan,  and  not  a 
gift,  and  that  whenever  it  may  be  in  his  power,  he 
shall  be  expected  to  repay  the  sum  to  the  fund,  to  in- 
crease its  efficiency  for  future  operations.  On  and 
after  the  end  of  this  century  the  fund  will  be  available 
for  all  students,  irrespective  of  nationality,  on  pre- 
cisely similar  terms.  Clearly,  the  object  of  the  donor 
is  to  break  down  whatever  barriers  may  at  present  ex- 
ist, to  the  complete  unification  of  the  Norse  element 
in  our  population  with  the  great  body  of  the  people, 
made  up  of  all  the  nations  of  the  world.  It  would  be 
difficult  to  imagine  a  form  in  which  enlightened  mu- 
nificence can  more  elegantly  express  itself,  than  by 
such  contributions  to  the  improvement  of  the  State 
University,  and  it  is  gratifying  to  observe  that  other 
persons  are  preparing  to  follow  in  the  path  thus  nobly 
indicated.  Most  of  the  universities  and  scholastic  in- 
stitutions in  Europe  have  been  enriched  by  just  such 
acts  of  individual  munificence,  generally  by  way  of 
bequests,  taking  effect  upon  the  death  of  the  donor. 
The  state  bestowed  upon  the  University  the  building 
which  had  been  occupied  as  the  soldiers'  orphans 
home,  with  the  intention  that  it  should  be  used  as  the 
location  for  a  medical  school  or  department;  but  for 
many  reasons  it  was  found  inexpedient  to  carry  out 
that  design,  and  the  regents  having  memorialized 
the  legislature  to  that  effect,  have  been  permitted  to 
sell  the  structure  and  grounds  for  $18,000.  The  Nor- 
wegians, who  have  made  the  purchase,  will  establish 
an  academy  and  theological  seminary  in  the  building, 


78  HISTOET    OF   MADISON. 

which  will  thus  become  a  considerable  addition  to  the 
educational  facilities  in  Madison. 

Returning  now  from  a  prolonged  digression  on  the 
subject  of  gifts,  to  resume  the  narrative  temporarily 
broken,  we  may  say,  that  in  June,  1865,  the  war 
having  come  to  an  end,  it  was  thought  advisable  to 
reorganize  the  State  University,  but  in  consequence 
of  an  offer  of  the  chancellorship  having  been  declined, 
Prof.  Sterling  continued  in  his  position  until  the 
following  year.  The  increase  of  students  and  the 
improving  aspect  of  affairs  generally,  so  far  as  the 
University  was  concerned,  led  to  a  reconstruction, 
which  was  aided  by  a  vacation  of  all  the  chairs  in 
1866,  whereupon  Pres.  Paul  A.  Chadbourne  was  called 
to  the  management  of  the  University  from  the  agricul- 
tural college  of  Massachusetts.  Prof.  Sterling  alone, 
of  all  the  old  faculty,  was  retained  and  reelected. 

The  change  made  in  1866  entitled  the  Universitv 
to  the  advantages  accruing  under  the  act  of  congress, 
which  granted  lands  for  agricultural  colleges.  The 
alterations  necessary  were  embodied  in  an  act,  which 
was  approved  on  the  12th  of  April,  1866,  and  there- 
upon the  county  of  Dane  issued  bonds  to  the  amount  of 
§10,000  for  the  purchase  of  lands  for  an  experimental 
farm  contiguous  to  the  university  grounds.  The 
requisite  funds  were  provided  and  the  farm  procured, 
but  two  professors  in  turn  declined  the  nomination 
as  president,  and  the  members  of  the  old  faculty  were 
recalled  for  another  year.  After  certain  amendments 
had  been  made  in  the  regulations,  as  to  the  several 


HISTORY   OF   MADISON".  79 

departments  being  open  to  both  sexes  on  precisely 
similar  terms,  Prof.  Chadbourne  accepted  the  presi- 
dency in  1867,  and  the  work  of  reconstruction  pro- 
ceeded. 

Since  that  time,  the  state  has  pursued  a  more  liberal 
and  enlightened  policy  towards  the  University.  The 
educational  power  of  the  institution  has  been  felt  in 
the  community,  in  the  presence  and  force  of  men 
trained  therein,  or  in  kindred  establishments,  and  now 
editing  the  leading  journals  of  the  state,  or  filling 
other  responsible  representative  positions.  The  sec- 
retary of  state,  in  his  report  for  1866,  recognized  the 
fact,  that  Wisconsin  had  not  appropriated  one  dollar 
toward  the  support  of  the  University,  but  had  absorbed 
from  the  endowment  given  by  the  general  govern- 
ment, sums  aggregating  more  than  $10,000,  in  the 
form  of  charges  for  taking  care  of  the  lands,  besides 
reducing  the  value  of  the  property  in  question,  so 
that  the  fund  arising  from  the  interest  had  decreased 
$7,000  per  annum  in  less  than  two  years.  The  action 
of  Dane  county  in  affording  substantial  help  was 
speedily  followed  by  compensatory  measures  in  the 
legislature.  In  the  year  1867,  an  appropriation  of 
$7,303.76  per  annum  was  made  for  a  term  of  ten 
years,  and  it  was  supposed  that  a  like  amount  would 
be  granted  in  perpetuity  as  an  act  of  simple  justice; 
but,  as  will  be  seen,  a  much  more  generous  arrange- 
ment has  been  effected.  The  charge  unwisely  levied 
by  the  state  upon  the  University,  property  for  taking 
care  of  its  lands,  was  at  the  same  time  abandoned. 


80  HISTOKY   OF   MADISON". 

Three  years  later,  in  1870,  a  sum  of  $50,000  was 
appropriated  to  erect  a  female  college,  that  being  the 
first  sum  actually  granted  by  Wisconsin  in  aid  of  her 
own  University.  In  the  year  1875,  upon  proper  repre- 
sentations as  to  the  necessity  for  additional  buildings, 
the  legislature  appropriated  $S0,000  to  enable  the 
regents  to  proceed  with  the  erection  of  Science  Hall, 
which  is  now  fully  complete;  and  still  later,  in  the 
winter  of  1876,  an  act  has  been  passed  repealing 
all  other  measures  of  appropriation  touching  the 
revenues  of  the  institution,  and  giving,  by  way  of 
liberal  acquittance  for  every  error  in  the  past,  an 
annual  tax  of  one-tenth  of  a  mill  on  the  dollar,  on  the 
valuation  of  the  state,  upon  the  condition,  that  from 
and  after  July,  1876,  all  tuition  shall  be  free  to  every 
citizen  of  Wisconsin.  The  line  of  policy  thus  indi- 
cated, places  the  State  University  on  a  sound  basis, 
and  will  not  fail  to  establish  the  character  of  our 
people  thoughout  the  union.  The  struggle  for  life 
has  ended,  and  the  munificence  of  the  legislature, 
expressing  the  will  of  the  community,  will  materially 
aid  in  developing  the  resources  of  the  state.  The  line 
of  conduct  pursued  in  the  beginning  was  an  aberra- 
tion, such  as  we  are  not  likely  to  see  repeated. 

A  desire  to  narrate  in  the  proper  order,  and  in  a 
connected  way,  the  several  items  of  financial  policy 
which,  since  1866,  have  characterized  the  legislature, 
has  led  to  a  deviation  from  the  straight  course  in  de- 
scribing the  steps  by  which  the  regents  and  the  faculty 
have  discharged  their  duties;  but  allowances  can  be 


HISTOKY   OF    MADISON".  81 

made  for  that  offense  in  the  presence  of  such  ad- 
mirable provocation.  There  will  be  no  further  need 
to  break  the  continuity  of  the  narrative. 

The  University  has  now  a  department  of  engineer- 
ing and  military  tactics,  to ' which  has  been  added  a 
department  of  civil  and  mechanical  engineering  and 
military  science.  Mining,  metallurgy  and  engineer- 
ing as  connected  with  mines,  have  also  received  atten- 
tion; and  the  department  of  agriculture,  a  branch 
of  training  second  to  none  in  importance,  is  very 
slowly  advancing  in  appreciation  as  well  among  the 
people  as  in  the  minds  of  the  regents.  Efforts  have 
been  made  to  render  this  branch  of  education  effective, 
but  up  to  the  present  time  there  have  been  no  agricul- 
tural students.  The  Law  Department,  under  the  able 
Dean  of  the  Faculty,  Prof.  J.  H.  Carpenter,  aided  by 
the  best  authorities  in  the  state,  deserves  the  very 
highest  encomiums. 

President  Chadbourne's  labors,  under  the  recon- 
structed board,  and  the  better  tone  of  public  opinion, 
gave  an  impetus  to  educational  effort.  The  University 
became  more  worthy  of  support,  a  better  exponent  of 
scientific  culture;  and  the  leading  minds  in  the  com- 
munity recognized  its  higher  usefulness.  The  in- 
crease of  students  consequent  upon  those  improve- 
ments, rendered  additional  buildings  necessary,  and 
the  want  has  been  in  part  supplied,  but  the  require- 
ments of  the  institutioii  will  continue  to  increase 
with  the  growing  importance  of  the  community. 
There  cannot  be  finality  in  supplying  the  wants  of  an 


82  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

intellectual  people  whose  numbers  and  demands  in 
tlie  realm  of  knowledge  are  daily  expanding.  Already 
there  are  murmurs  because  of  the  want  of  an  ob- 
servatory and  astronomical  instruments.  There  can 
be  no  question  that  these  requirements  will  be  sup- 
plied. 

President  Chadbourne  was  obliged  to  retire  in  con- 
sequence of  ill  health  in  1870,  and  his  place  was  tem- 
porarily supplied  by  Yice  President  Sterling,  during 
whose  incumbency,  at  first  as  a  matter  of  necessity, 
and  afterwards  as  a  matter  of  principle,  young  women 
were  admitted  to  recite  with  any  of  the  classes.  The 
change  has  proved  beneficial.  President  Twombly, 
D.  D.,  was  elected  in  1871,  and  continued  in  office 
until  1874,  when  President  Bascom,  LL.  D.,  D.  D., 
was  called  to  the  work.  Under  the  two  officers  last 
named  in  succession,  but  more  especially  under  Presi- 
dent Bascom,  the  institution  has  grown  in  usefulness 
and  in  public  favor,  and  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt 
that  the  good  understanding,  fully  established,  will 
be  maintained. 

The  income  of  the  University  from  all  sources,  now 
amounts  to  about  $80,000  per  annum,  and  with  the 
growth  of  the  state  generally,  the  prosperity  of  the 
institution  will  steadily  keep  pace.  Henceforth  there 
will  be  no  reason  why  every  young  man  and  young 
woman  in  AVisconsin,  having  an  ambition  to  possess 
the  advantages  of  complete  training,  should  not  culti- 
vate the  powers  with  which  God  has  blessed  them,  in 
the  development  of  their  intellectual  faculties. 


HISTORY   OF   MADISOK.  S3 


CIIAPTEK  Y. 

STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 

The  state  library  dates  from  the  earliest  clays  of  our 
existence  as  a  territorial  government,  the  first  pur- 
chase of  books  having  been  made  in  1837,  since 
which  time  the  collection  has  been  largely  increased. 
The  State  Historical  Society  was  organized  on  the 
30th  of  January,  1849,  and  its  treasures  now  com- 
prise by  far  the  best  collection  of  materials  for  north- 
western history  that  can  be  found  anywhere  in  this 
western  country.  There  was  at  one  time  a  superior 
collection  in  Chicago,  but  the  great  fire  unfortunately 
destroyed  that,  among  other  priceless  treasures.  The 
organization  of  the  society  was  suggested  in  the 
Mineral  Point  Democrat  of  October  22,  1845,  by 
Chauncy  C.  Britt,  but  notwithstanding  the  support 
given  to  the  project  by  the  whole  of  the  press,  it  was 
not  found  possible  to  carry  it  into  effect  until  the 
date  mentioned,  more  than  three  years  later.  Even 
then  it  was  not  a  vigorous  existence,  upon  which  the 
association  entered.  Events  called  off  the  attention 
of  some,  sickness  and  misfortune  impeded  others, 
and  the  act  of  incorporation  was  not  procured  until 
March,  1853,  when  there  were  not  fifty  volumes  in  the 
library.     In  the  month  of  January  following,  a  com- 


84  HISTORY   OF    MADISON. 

plete  reorganization  having  been  effected,  a  vote  of 
$500  per  annum  was  subsequently  procured  from  the 
legislature  to  assist  in  attaining  the  objects  aimed  at 
by  the  promoters ;  and  the  first  annual  report  for  the 
year  1854  showed  very  considerable  progress.  There 
were  already  more  than  one  thousand  volumes  in  the 
library  and  promises  of  assistance  and  cooperation 
had  been  received  from  numerous  societies  on  this 
continent  and  in  Europe,  as  well  as  from  American 
authors  whose  names  are  to-day  more  honorable  to 
the  nation  than  our  material  riches.  Collections  of 
autographs,  portraits,  and  life  sized  pictures  had  al- 
ready been  commenced,  including  mementoes  of  our 
worthiest  men,  and  those  lines  of  effort  have  been 
persevered  in  with  great  success  to  the  present  time, 
until  the  gallery  of  the  Historical  Society  has  become 
singularly  complete.  With  the  report  for  1854  were 
presented  many  valuable  and  interesting  documents 
forming  parts  of  the  contemporary  and  more  remote 
history  of  the  northwest,  in  a  striking  way  illus- 
trating the  importance  of  the  society.  One  paper  was 
a  translation  from  the  French,  setting  forth  the  policy 
which  the  soldiery  of  that  nation  should  pursue  to- 
ward the  Chippewas  and  Foxes;  another  an  English 
record  of  the  days  when  the  British  forces  had  taken 
possession  of  Green  Bay  and  other  frontier  posts, 
soon  after  the  reduction  of  Canada  by  the  English, 
and  a  very  interesting  appendix  consisted  of  Jas.  W. 
Biddle's  recollections  of  Green  Bay  in  1816-17,  about 
the  time  that  this  country  really  passed  under  Amer- 


HISTORY    OF   MADISOX.  85 

ican  rule.  The  discriminating  reader  is  of  course 
aware  that  although  the  British  should  have  surren- 
dered  this  country  in  1783,  there  were  excuses  made 
for  the  retention  of  Detroit  and  other  posts  until 
Jay's  treaty  was  made,  and  that  even  after  that  date 
it  was  not  until  the  end  of  the  war  of  1812  that  the 
English  authorities  abandoned  their  manipulations 
with  the  Indians  in  this  territory.  The  conduct  of 
the  Chippewas  in  hoisting  the  English  flag  at  Sault 
Ste  Marie  in  1820,  and  defying  Gov.  Cass,  was  an 
event  of  still  later  occurrence,  and  the  courage  with 
which  the  old  General  tore  down  the  insolent  bunting, 
in  the  face  of  the  Indians,  won  for  him  honest  ad- 
miration. James  Duane  Doty,  who  was  then  travel 
ing  in  the  suite  of  Gov.  Cass,  assisted  in  hoisting  the 
Union  colors,  and  thereby  increased  his  favor  with 
the  governor  of  Michigan.  The  drain  on  the  material 
resources  of  England,  caused  by  long  continued  wars 
against  Napoleon,  ended  by  the  banishment  of  that 
ruler  to  St.  Helena  in  1815-16,  made  it  inexpedient 
for  the  nation  to  continue  its  system  of  annuities  to 
Tomah  and  the  Menomonees,  as  well  as  to  other  In- 
dian allies.  The  change  was  announced  in  1817,  and 
Mr.  Biddle's  recollections  embrace  that  period  and 
event,  as  well  as  much  other  matter  that  deserves  re- 
capitulation. The  customs  of  Green  Bay  as  to  lim- 
ited marriages,  and  transfers  of  marital  engagements, 
among  the  voyageurs,  fur  traders  and  their  semi  In- 
dian squaws,  read  like  the  records  of  South  Sea 
Island  life,  with  a  few  business  like  variations.    There 


86  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

had  not  been  a  priest  in  Green  Bay  for  some  time, 
and  Judge  Reaume,  whose  commission  was  said  to 
have  been  given  by  Gen.  Harrison,  or  earlier  by  the 
British,  was  for  many  years  the  only  justice.  Nobody 
could  say  when  his  authority  first  claimed  recognition, 
but  on  the  other  hand  nobody  presumed  to  question 
its  potency.  "The  Judge's  old  jack  knife,"  sent  by 
the  constable,  was  a  sufficient  summons  for  any  real 
or  assumed  offender,  and  the  judgment  of  the  bench 
could  be  influenced  by  a  present,  so  that  in  one  respect 
he  resembled  Lord  Chancellor  Bacon;  but  like  the 
more  celebrated  man  last  mentioned,  he  was  not  with- 
out many  excellent  points,  and  his  usefulness  was  be- 
yond question.  Gov.  Cass  recognized  the  substantial 
worth  of  Judge  Reaume  and  gave  him  an  appoint- 
ment as  associate  justice,  toward  the  end  of  his 
career,  after  the  organization  of  the  territory  of  Mich- 
igan. 

The  state  will  not  readily  comprehend  how  much  is 
due  to  the  labors  of  the  Historical  Society,  and  to  its 
corresponding  secretary,  Lyman  C.  Draper,  in  the 
procurement  and  preservation  of  the  treasures  amassed 
by  the  society;  but  the  Union  and  the  reading  world 
will  some  day  recognize  their  worth,  and  this  city  can- 
not fail  to  reap  honor  in  having  been  the  birthplace 
of  the  institution. 

Col.  "Whittlesey's  "Tour  Through  "Wisconsin  in 
1832,"  written  in  1838,  gives  a  vivid  and  life-like 
description  of  the  Black  Hawk  War,  but  our  space 
will  not  allow  of  such  extracts  as  might  be  desired, 


i>i'V 


'll 


Hon.  Lyman  C.  Dkaper. 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON.  89 

and  it  is  to  be  hoped  tliat  some  person  favored  by  the 
society,  will  embody  in  a  few  volumes  the  choicer  mat- 
ter in  its  priceless  collection.  For  the  present  it  is 
impossible  even  to  enumerate  the  contributions  that 
lie  before  us,  and  it  is  necessary,  to  confine  ourselves 
to  a  bare  mention  of  only  a  few  of  the  chief  items  of 
interest.  Major  H.  A.  Tenney,  whose  services  to  the 
community  in  many  ways  have  been  beyond  praise, 
has  given  an  admirable  precis  of  "Early  Times  in 
Wisconsin,"  written  in  this  city  in  1849,  after  he  had 
succeeded  in  buttonholing  Col.  Brigham,  and  had 
collated  the  information  thus  obtained,  with  knowl- 
edge from  innumerable  other  sources.  The  first  settler 
in  Dane  county  was  not  inclined  to  write  his  recollec- 
tions, but  in  his  manly  and  genial  way  he  was 
induced  to  talk  of  his  early  experiences,  and  currente 
calamo,  Major  Tenney  converted  his  veracious  words 
into  history,  which  must  always  be  the  foundation  of 
"Wisconsin's  records. 

The  second  annual  report  showed  that  the  Histori- 
cal Society  had  increased  its  store  by  1,065  volumes 
during  the  year  1855,  and  that  in  every  other  respect 
it  was  growing  in  usefulness,  with  experience.  The 
picture  gallery  then  consisted  of  twenty-five  paintings, 
besides  which  the  likenesses  of  numbers  of  local  and 
national  celebrities  had  been  promised  as  additions  to 
the  collection.  ]STo  less  than  forty-seven  portraits, 
chiefly  of  pioneers  and  friends  of  Wisconsin,  had  then 
been  engaged,  nearly  all  of  which  were  afterwards 
supplied.     We  are  almost  entirely  at  a  loss  in  general 


90  HISTORY   OF   MADISON. 

lii story,  when  we  attempt  to  recall  the  features  of 
thousands  of  men  and  women  with  whose  deeds  the 
world  may  be  said  to  be  familiar,  yet  "  the  counter- 
feit presentment"  is  often  the  best  commentary  upon 
the  actual  career  of  a  person.  Could  we  only  be  sure 
as  to  which  of  the  several  pictures,  busts  and  casts, 
said  to  have  been  made  at  various  times  and  places, 
of  the  player  and  poet,  William  Shakspere,  was  really 
taken  from  his  features,  in  life  or  in  death,  it  would 
be  much  easier  to  pronounce  upon  the  question 
whether  the  wool-comber's  son,  who  married  Anne 
Hathaway,  was  truly  the  writer  of  the  plays  and  son- 
nets that  bear  his  name,  or  only  the  stalking  horse  of 
a  still  greater  personage,  the  founder  of  our  modern 
system  of  investigation.  The  pictures  then  in  the  gal- 
lery of  the  society  were  particularized,  and  where  pos- 
sible and  necessary,  as  in  the  case  of  Black  Hawk,  the 
prophet,  and  in  other  such,  certified  to  by  the  then 
librarian,  Prof.  S.  H.  Carpenter,  in  an  excellent  report 
on  his  particular  branch  of  the  society's  possessions. 
The  library  has  gone  on  increasing  in  every  feature 
with  accelerating  rapidity  every  year,  so  that  in  1S57 
the  volumes  aggregated  3,122,  exclusive  of  pamphlets 
and  unbound  newspapers;  in  the  year  following,  4,146; 
in  1862  there  were  14,400  volumes ;  in  1866,  when  the 
change  was  made  from  the  basement  of  the  Baptist 
Church  to  the  suite  of  rooms  in  the  capitol  now  occu- 
pied, there  were  21,000  volumes  and  documents;  in 
1868,  the  Tank  Library  donation  added  4,812  volumes, 
and  the  number  of  books,  bound  and  unbound,  had 


TIISTORY    OF    MADISON.  01 

increased  to  31,505,  which  in  1872,  when  the  last  pub- 
lication appeared,  showed  a  total  of  50,530.  The  sup- 
plementary catalogue,  in  August,  1875,  showed  a  fur- 
ther expansion  to  65,000,  and  the  gratifying  increment 
goes  on  with  continuous  energy. 

There  are  now  in  the  galleries  more  than  one  hun- 
dred oil  paintings  of  noteworthy  men,  a  feature  of 
surpassing  value.  The  cabinet  of  pre-hrstoric  relics 
contains  nearly  ten  thousand  specimens  of  the  tools, 
ornaments  and  weapons  of  the  stone  age,  in  many  re- 
spects second  to  none  in  the  world.  The  copper  era 
is  illustrated  by  even  a  still  more  valuable  collection, 
which  has  latterly  been  transferred  to  the  Centennial 
Exposition  in  Philadelphia,  an  assemblage  of  celts, 
spearheads  and  knives,  in  unalloyed  copper,  such  as  all 
Europe  cannot  equal.  The  maps  and  other  valuables 
which  are  preserved  in  this  institution  would  alone 
repay  all  the  outlay  that  the  state  has  incurred  in  sup- 
porting the  invaluable  movement,  with  which  it  is  an 
honor  to  have  been  associated,  as  even  the  humblest 
pains-taking  assistant. 

The  Tank  collection  above  mentioned  deserves  more 
detailed  notice.  One  of  the  earliest  pioneers  in  Wis- 
consin was  Otto  Tank,  whose  widow,  the  daughter  of 
a  clergyman  in  Zeist,  in  Holland,  inherited  from  her 
father  his  exceedingly  choice  collection  of  works, 
amounting  to  more  than  5,000,  inclusive  of  pamphlets, 
and  this  great  treasure  was  by  Mrs.  Tank  freely  given 
to  the  State  Historical  Society,  the  cost  of  removal 
from  Holland  to  this  country  being  covered  by  a  legis- 


92  HISTORY    OF   MADISON. 

lative  appropriation.  In  tlie  next  year  a  full  set  of 
Patent  Office  Reports,  which  cost  the  donors  no  less 
than  $12,500  gold,  and  which  covers  the  whole  range 
of  invention  since  the  year  1617,  the  year  following 
the  deaths  of  Shakspere  and  Cervantes,  were  presented 
to  the  Historical  Society  by  the  British  government, 
through  the  intervention  of  the  Hon.  Charles  Francis 
Adams,  late  minister  to  the  court  of  St.  James.  The 
favor  thus  conferred  does  not  end  with  the  donation 
named,  as  the  society  will  continue  to  receive  the 
series  of  publications  from  the  Patent  Office  in  Lon- 
don, at  the  rate  of  about  one  hundred  volumes  per 
year,  and  thus  the  inventive  genius  of  this  state  will 
continue  to  be  stimulated  by  the  opportunity  at  all 
times  to  inspect  what  has  been  accomplished  and  at- 
tempted, and  what  is  still  within  the  range  of  tenta- 
tive effort  among  our  brethren  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Atlantic.  Like  donations  may  be  expected  from 
every  other  European  government,  when  the  purposes 
of  the  institution  are  made  known  in  the  proper 
cpmrters. 

To  continue  such  an  enumeration  would  prove  tedi- 
ous to  the  average  reader,  and  in  consequence,  we  refer 
our  friends  for  more  complete  details  to  the  reports 
and  catalogues  of  the  society,  and  the  rooms  in  the 
state  capitol,  which  already  are  too  small  to  do  justice 
to  an  alwavs  increasing  literary,  archaic  and  artistic 
treasure.  Mr.  Draper  has  proved  himself,  in  an  excep- 
tional degree,  "  the  right  man  in  the  right  place,"  one 
of  those  whose  deeds  will  live  after  them,  and  to  him 


HISTORY   OF   MADISON.  93 

more  than  to  any  other  individual,  the  state  and  this 
City  owe  the  wonderful  growth  which  we  have  utterly 
failed  to  chronicle  according  to  its  merits.  Those  who 
have  been  associated  with  him  best  know  his  peculiar 
fitness  for  the  task  to  which  his  life  has  been  devoted, 
and  none  of  them  will  grudge  the  patient  and  modest 
worker  the  credit  to  which  he  is  honestly  entitled. 
His  name  has  been  the  open  sesame  to  numerous  col- 
lections, and  to  innumerable  pockets,  from  which  the 
resources  of  the  society  have  been  enriched,  and  his 
zeal  has  contributed  to  induce  the  legislature  to  assist 
the  movement  by  ajDpropriations  which,  without  great 
economy,  must  still  have  been  wholly  inadequate, 
while  his  example  has  induced  hundreds  to  become 
willing  laborers  in  the  good  cause. 

Before  us,  on  the  desk,  lie  the  volumes  of  Halli- 
well's  Shakspere,  a  costly  and  rare  luxury,  originally 
published  at  $800  per  copy,  beyond  our  reach  in  any 
other  wTay.  The  Historical  Society  enables  us  to  see 
all  that  is  known  about  the  man  with  whom  the 
greatest  treasure  of  poetry  on  this  earth  is  associated. 
Here  are  fao  similes  of  his  writing,  and  of  his  fath- 
er's mark.  The  deeds  and  acquittances,  and  unhap- 
pily, also  the  writs,  which  tell  of  the  poverty  that 
fell  upon  the  poet's  home.  Here  are  figured,  as 
though  in  Arery  fact,  the  original  documents  as  they 
were  presented  to  his  eyes,  letters  and  memoranda  in 
which  Shakspere  and  his  immediate  surroundings 
moved,  in  their  daily  lives. 


94  HISTORY    OF   MADISON. 

The  state  library  has  been  already  named,  as  its 
chronological  right  demanded,  seeing  that  it  came 
into  being  before  the  capitol  was  planned.  Apart 
from  that  feature,  it  is  of  great  merit  as  a  law  library, 
hardly  second  to  any  in  the  west,  and  the  complete- 
ness of  the  collection  long  since  suggested  to  the 
managers  the  transfer  of  all  its  miscellaneous  works 
to  the  shelves  of  the  Historical  Society.  The  cour- 
tesy of  the  librarian,  the  perfect  order  prevailing  in 
the  department,  and  the  extensive  as  well  as  excellent 
assortment  of .  works,  combine  to  render  the  state 
library,  in  every  sense,  an  honor  to  its  promoters  and 
to  this  city.  The  location  occupied  by  this  depart- 
ment in  the  capitol,  adjoining  the  supreme  court  and 
the  chambers  of  the  legislature,  renders  it  easy  of 
access  to  all  who  are  concerned  in  its  advantages. 

The  city  library,  in  City  Hall,  and  the  library  at 
the  University,  deserve  more  lengthened  notice  than 
our  space  will  permit,  seeing  that  the  witchery  of 
books  would  infallibly  cause  an  overrunning  of  our 
limits,  "  contrary  to  the  statute  thereunto  made  and 
provided."  Before  ending  this  chapter,  it  becomes 
our  imperative,  as  well  as  our  pleasant  duty,  to  ac- 
knowledge the  manifold  kindnesses  of  Librarian  D. 
S.  Durrie,  whose  own  labors  as  a  writer  have  made 
him  apt  to  render  aid  to  every  one  toiling  with  pen 
or  pencil.  His  merits  need  no  eulogy,  but  this  word 
of  recognition  is  due  to  ourselves. 


HISTORY   OF   MADISON.  95 


CHAPTER    VII. 

CHURCHES    AND    PASTOES. 

The  supposed  first  attempt  at  church  organization 
was  named  in  our  pioneer  sketches.  Many  similar 
works  followed.  Any  preacher  was  welcomed  in  Mr. 
Ream's,  Madison  House.  Bishop  Kemper  was  a 
visitor  there,  and  Father  Quaw,  from  Canada.  Col. 
Slaughter  and  Mr.  Ream  were  vestrymen.  The  last 
named  gentleman  was  in  request  as  a  singer,  when 
services  were  held  hy  any  denomination.  Rev.  ~W. 
Philo  was  the  minister  of  the  "  Apostolic  Church  ': 
for  twelve  months.  "  Dominie  Philo  "  was  senti- 
mental in  his  references  to  the  other  sex,  and  that  fact 
provoked  laughter,  but,  on  the  whole,  he  was  much 
respected.  When  Mr.  Toots  in  "  Dombey  and  Son," 
was  crossed  in  love,  he  told  Miss  Dombey,  "  It's  not  of 
the  slightest  consequence."  It  was  otherwise  with 
Mr.  Philo.  There  was  no  Susan  Nipper  to  give  him 
consolation.  He  took  to  it  kindly,  and  became  senti- 
mental. Probably  some  eastern  belle  had  declined  to 
share  his  missionary  privations,  and  he  knew  that 
"  the  course  of  true  love  never  did  run  smooth." 
There  was  a  donation  party  for  the  good  man  on 
Christmas  Eve,  184:0,  and  he  was  made  rich  in  crea- 
ture comforts;  but  he    was  suspected    of   shedding 


96  HISTORY    OF    MADISON". 

tears,  as  he  reflected  on  the  happiness  that  Dulcinea 
had  lost.  Ready  to  take  part  in  any  ameliorating 
effort,  we  find  him  conducting  the  religions  exercises 
of  the  celebration,  July  4th,  1841,  when  Mr.  Slinger- 
land  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  was  the  orator. 
He,  however,  ultimately  found  him  a  helpmate,  and 
lived  to  be  the  father  of  a  family. 

Rev.  Richard  F.  Cadle,  his  successor,  had  lived 
fourteen  years  in  the  territory.  He  came  to  Green 
Bay  as  a  missionary  to  the  Indians.  One  hundred 
and  twenty-nine  children,  Indian  and  mixed,  at  one 
time  were  taught  by  him  and  his  assistants,  industri- 
al habits  and  the  elements  of  a  good  English  Chris- 
tian  training;  but  the  effort  died  out  after  sixteen 
years.  Mr.  Cadle  was  chaplain  of  the  fort  at  G-reen 
Bay  and  taught  school.  Many  of  the  early  teachers 
were  men  and  women  of  good  standing.  He  removed 
to  Fort  Crawford,  Prairie  du  Chien,  in  1830,  being 
chaplain  and  teacher  there  for  five  years,  until  he 
came  as  pastor  of  the  Apostolic  Church,  to  this  vil- 
lage. 

Rev.  Albert  Slino-erland's  Dutch  Reformed  Church 
was  a  heterogeneous  combination.  There  was  an  un- 
derstanding among  the  nine  members,  that  name  and 
creed  should  remain  subject  to  the  will  of  the  major- 
ity. The  congregation  was  organized  in  1840.  The 
preacher  officiated  twelve  months  from  the  preceding 
June.  He  was  indefatigable,  lecturing  on  temperance 
as  well  as  preaching,  from  Sun  Prairie  to  Prairie  du 
Sac.     Col.   Brigham  was  the  ruling  elder.     Eventu- 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 


97 


ally  his  followers  came  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J. 
M.  Clarke,  having  joined  the  Presbyterian  and  Congre- 
gational convention.  Rev.  S.  E.  Miner,  now  a  prosper 
ous  business  man  in  Kansas,  next  preached  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society.  Eben  Peck's 
log  house  was  their  temporary  church  until  a  commodi- 
ous barn  had  been  erected.  A  better  edifice  was  raised 
in  18-16  on  Webster  street,  block  108,  lot  10,  that  seated 
250.  Rev.  Chas.  Lord  came  in  1846,  and  continued 
until  1S54,  when,  his  eyesight  failing,  he  resigned. 
Rev.  H.  K.  Eggleston,  his  successor,  was  very  popular. 
When  he  left,  there  came  near  being  a  permanent 
split  in  the  congregation. 

There  is  a  general  impression  that  whisky  drinking 
was  very  common  among  the  pioneers.  Mr.  Slinger- 
land,  in  1840,  said  that  intemperance  was  not  so  pre- 
valent as  in  New  York,  but  Sabbath  breaking  and  pro- 
fanity  impressed  him  strongly.  Some  preachers  have 
preserved  the  best  chronicles  of  the  time.  Rev.  Dr. 
Branson  gives  a  lively  picture  of  the  various  uses  of 
the  capitol  for  "  courts,  plays,  shows,  and  worship,"  as 
well  as  legislation.  Faro  banks  and  the  "  Tiger ,! 
were  excluded,  but  there  were  signs  of  the  credit  rao- 
bilier.  The  murder  of  C.  C.  P.  Arndt  on  the  eleventh 
of  February,  1842,  gave  a  terrible  completeness  to  the 
catalogue  of  deeds  possible  in  the  capitol.  J.  R. 
Vineyard,  from  Grant  county,  terminated  a  dispute 
of  his  own  beginning  by  shooting  his  fellow  member 
through  the  heart,    in  the    council    chamber.      The 

council  refused  Vineyard's  resignation  and  expelled 

7 


98  IIISTOEY    OF    MADISON. 

him  from  the  legislature,  but  the  courts  acquitted 
him  of  manslaughter.  The  funeral  services  in  the 
chamber  were  very  impressive,  and  Arndt  was  in- 
terred at  Green  Bay.  Vineyard  went  to  California. 
Considering  the  excitment,  it  is  a  wonder  that  he  was 
not  lynched.  C.  C.  P.  Arndt's  father  was  in  the  as- 
sembly when  his  son  was  shot,  having  been  invited, 
from  Green  Bay  to  a  social  gathering  which  had  been 
enjoyed  the  night  before.  The  Arndts,  father  and 
son,  were  beloved,  and  the  murder  was   unprovoked. 

The  erection  of  a  Catholic  church  was  resolved  on 
in  1845,  and  commenced  in  the  following  spring. 
The  church  on  Morris  street  was  built  in  1850,  and 
three  years  later  the  foundation  stone  of  the  Catholic 
cathedral  on  Main  street  was  laid  by  Bishop  Henni. 
The  consecration  of  St.  Raphaels,  in  1866,  was  a  grand 
ceremonial,  as  was  also  the  dedication  of  "  The  Church 
of  the  Holy  Redeemer  "  in  1860.  The  storm  of  1874 
injured  the  steeple  of  the  cathedral,  so  that  it  was 
taken  down,  but  the  structure  will  be  improved  greatly 
in  consequence. 

The  first  sermon  was  preached  in  Madison  by  the 
Rev.  Salmon  Stebbins,  M.  E.,  as  presiding  elder  of 
the  Milwaukee  district,  in  the  Illinois  conference. 
He  came  on  the  28th  of  November,  1837,  and  upon 
the  invitaton  of  Col.  Bird,  converted  the  bar  room  of 
his  brother's  house  into  a  tabernacle.  The  elder,  a 
vigorous  preacher  at  Kenosha,  says:  "I  preached  to 
an  interested  and  interesting  congregation."  There 
was  no  collection,  but  the  men  made  up  a  purse  of 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON.  99 

$11.  There  were  few  inhabitants  between  Madison 
and  Jefferson.  He  came  through  Kenosha  —  then 
Southport  —  and  by  way  of  Milwaukee,  through  the 
counties  of  Washington,  Manitowoc  and  Sheboygan, 
to  Green  Bay  and  Fond  du  Lac  —  a  formidable 
journey  over  such  roads.  Milwaukee  was  the  first 
location  made  in  this  territory.  Solomon  Juneau 
was  in  his  prime,  a  prosperous  Indian  trader,  found- 
ing a  city.  Root  River  Mission  was  formed  with 
Rev.  Samuel  Pillsbury  in  charge.  He  was  our  second 
preacher,  and  is  now  editing  a  paper.  Col.  Bird 
thought  that  Elder  Stebbins'  sermon  was  preached  in 
September,  but  the  money  entry  in  the  diary  of  the 
Elder  fixes  the  date  of  the  service.  The  foundation 
of  the  capitol  was  completed  in  November,  and  the 
men  waited  for  Eben  Peck  to  return  from  Green 
Bay.  Mr.  Woolcox  of  Jefferson  says:  "Peck  had  to 
swim  the  rivers  and  the  money  was  wet,  so  we  waited 
until  it  was  dry  to  get  our  pay.  About  the  end  of 
November  we  started."  Mrs.  Marion  Starkweather, 
Col.  Bird's  daughter,  says  that  Mr.  Pillsbury  came  in 
March,  1838,  and  held  services  afterwards  once  every 
month.  Col.  Bird  provided  a  barn  for  him,  where 
Kentzler's  stables  are  now  standing.  There  were  few 
white  settlers;  Col.  Bird,  with  four  children,  Chas. 
and  ¥m.  Bird,  and  Dr.  Almon  Lull  were  present 
when  he  first  preached,  but  the  outside  attendance 
was  large.  About  four  hundred  Indians  surrounded 
the  building,  but  would  not  enter.  Mr.  Pillsbury 
was  a  frequent  visitor.     He  assisted  in  opening  the 


100  IIISTOKY    OF    MADISON". 

capitol  when  the  first  session  was  held  in  the  un- 
finished building.  Mr.  Hyer  mentions  the  habits  of 
the  Indians  in  his  notice  of  "  Covalle  the  trapper." 
His  Indian  wife  and  her  children  would  gather  to 
observe  the  Sunday  meetings,  and  the  proceedings  of 
settlers  in  their  homes,  but  would  rarely  enter.  Dr. 
Joseph  Hobbins  says,  that  an  Indian  and  his  squaw 
dined  with  him  and  his  family,  behaving  with  ex- 
emplary decorum  during  the  repast;  but  after  leaving 
the  table  they  asked  for  every  article  that  caught 
their  fancy;  considering  that  fact,  their  backwardness 
was  a  blessing. 

The  Methodists  did  not  recruit  rapidly.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1838,  Rev.  John  Hodges  was  appointed  here 
and  to  Fort  Winnebago,  now  Portage.  The  first  three 
members  in  Madison  were  Ruth  Starts,  Benjamin 
Holt  and  his  wife.  Dr.  Brunson  was  a  member  of  the 
legislature  in  1840,  and  he  rallied  the  Methodists, 
assisting  the  chaplain,  Jas.  Mitchell,  in  occasional 
services.  He  thinks  that  Mr.  Fullerton  was  here  in 
1841.  S.  P.  Keyes  was  here  next  year;  then  Jesse  L. 
Bennet  in  1843,  and  Mr.  Stebbins  afterwards.  The 
several  preachers  cannot  be  mentioned,  but  Jonathan 
Snow  is  a  piece  of  our  history.  He  became  eccentric 
and  nearly  killed  the  church  by  harsh  discipline  in 
1851.  He  was  summarily  removed  and  is  remem- 
bered as  "The  Snow  Storm."  Gen.  Samuel  Fallows 
was  the  junior  preacher  in  1858-9,  and  in  1864  the 
chaplain  of  the  3d  Wisconsin  supplied  the  pulpit. 
Rev.  E.  D.  Huntly  is  now  the  pastor  and  is  working 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  101 

strenously  to  complete  the  edifice  almost  ready 
for  dedication.  The  little  church  was  once  a  great 
improvement  on  former  experiences,  but  the  new 
building  will  be  an  ornament  to  the  city.  When  the 
"  Little  Brick"  school  house,  on  Washington  avenue, 
became  too  small,  Damon  Y.  Kilgore  removed  his 
pupils  to  the  basement  of  the  Methodist  church. 
Even  there  250  pupils  in  one  room  must  have  re- 
quired good  stowage  and  little  fuel  in  winter. 

"Chief  Justice"  Seymour  was  reflected  upon  in  a 
public  meeting  during  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Philo, 
because,  he  being  a  justice  of  the  peace,  did  not  "  kill 
the  tiger"  that  was  being  "fought"'  by  many  citi- 
zens. The  respected  "dominie,"  never  suspecting  a 
joke,  drew  up  a  resolution  exculpating  the  squire  as  a 
"  good  and  sufficient  justice,"  and  the  audience,  which 
had  assembled  in  indignation,  broke  up  in  laughter. 
There  were  hard  cases  in  the  settlement,  compared 
with  whom  Covalle  was  a  marvel  of  civilization. 
Pinneo,  a  "  shingle  weaver,"  attended  church  one  day 
when  Mr.  Philo  was  preaching,  and  he  astounded  the 
congregation  by  saying  very  seriously,  "  That's  so,  Mr. 
Philo,  that's  so,  Butterfield's  got  to  be  saved;  just 
hold  on  'till  I  bring  him  in."  Pinneo  did  not  return. 
His  absence  was,  in  an  olfactory  sense,  a  pleasure. 
He  claimed  to  be  a  down  east  Yankee,  but  that  was 
the  only  sign  of  good  lineage.  He  was  indispensable 
as  a  maker  of  shingles,  and  when  sober,  had  a  laugh 
and  a  joke  for  everybody,  but  people  kept  to  wind- 
ward of  the  unwashed  man.     He  was  summoned  to 


102  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

serve  on  a  jury  in  Judge  Irvin's  court,  and  the  judge 
was  scrupulously  clean,  while  Pinneo  was  dirty  as  was 
possible  to  a  life  divorced  from  soap  and  water.  The 
court  was  adjourned  to  enable  Pinneo  to  wash  and 
procure  clean  clothes,  after  listening  to  a  diatribe 
against  filth;  but  he  survived  the  affliction,  and  was 
burned  to  death  at  last  in  a  drunken  orgie. 

Covalle  conformed  to  the  usages  of  civilization, 
attended  church,  was  orderly,  took  physic  with  praise- 
worthy resolution,  gave  it  to  his  half-breed  children, 
made  them  wear  the  garments  of  white  folks,  and 
attend  the  ceremony  of  his  marriage  to  their  mother, 
before  a  justice.  He  had  been  married  according  to 
the  usages  of  the  country.  He  traced  his  line  to  the 
trappers  on  Hudson's  Bay,  and  when  Col.  Bird  came 
here,  Covalle  was  the  only  white  man  on  the  site.  He 
led  a  blameless  life,  being  cleanly,  sober  and  obliging. 
Better  conditions  supervened.  Rev.  Stephen  McHugh 
was  called  by  the  Episcopal  church  in  1845,  having 
become  known  during  attendance  to  deliver  a  Masonic 
oration  on  the  anniversary  of  St.  John.  He  organ- 
ized Grace  Church  parish,  and  the  ladies  raised  funds 
to  purchase  the  land  occupied  by  the  church.  A 
brick  parsonage,  commenced  in  1850,  was  occupied  on 
Christmas  day  when  the  Rev.  "W.  H.  "Woodward  was 
pastor.  The  next  rector  was  the  Rev.  Hugh  M.  Thomp- 
son, followed  by  Mr.  Powers.  The  sound  of  the 
church-going  bell  in  the  village  was  due  to  Squire 
Seymour.  Meetings,  social,  political  and  religious, 
were  repeatedly  delayed   because   no   two  clocks  or 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  103 

watches  agreed,  and  the  variations  extended  over  two 
hours.  Somebody  suggested  a  bell;  Seymour  drew 
up  a  subscription  paper,  ordered  the  instrument,  and 
on  its  arrival  procured  the  first  peal  from  its  clapper, 
utilizing  the  astonishment  of  the  audience  by  carrying 
round  the  hat.  The  bell  was  the  common  property 
of  all  the  churches  and  every  organization. 

Rev.  J.  B.  Brittan  came  in  1855,  and  funds  were 
raised  to  build  a  church,  which  was  not  finished  when 
Mr.  Brittan  became  chaplain  of  a  regiment.  There 
had  been  an  outlay  of  $22,000,  but  the  tower  was  in- 
complete and  the  basement  was  not  ready  for  occu- 
pancy. Rev.  Jas.  L.  Maxwell  came  next,  remaining 
until  1S67.  Before  he  resigned,  a  very  handsome 
organ  had  been  built  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  Under  the 
rectorship  of  the  Rev.  H.  W.  Spaulding,  the  building 
was  completed  in  1872.  When  the  Rev.  Dr.  Spauld- 
ing removed  to  Pittsburg,  the  Rev.  John  Wilkinson, 
of  Chicago,  the  present  incumbent,  succeeded  hiur* 
winning  the  good  opinion  of  all  classes.  A  chime  of 
nine  bells  was  placed  in  the  tower  in  April,  1874. 
The  bishop's  bell,  in  memory  of  Bishops  Kemper  and 
Armitage,  the  largest  in  the  chime,  was  purchased  by 
general  contributions,  as  also  was  the  seventh,  the 
rest  being  donated  in  memoriam  of  the  departed, 
whose  names  they  bear. 

The  Congregational  Church  eventuated  from  Mr. 
Slingerland's  labors,  and  we  have  followed  the  organ- 
ization to  Mr.  Eggles ton's  ministry.  The  people  were 
attracted  by  Mr.  Eggleston,  and  Bacon's  Commercial 


104 


IIISTOKY    OF    MADISON. 


College  was  used  while  a  "brick  chapel  was  building 
on  Washington  avenue.  Mr.  Eggleston  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  James  Caldwell  in  1858,  and  in  the  following 
January  a  church  was  specially  organized  to  receive 
Mr.  Eggleston  as  pastor,  to  be  known  as  "  The  Union 
Congregational  Church  and  Society  of  Madison." 
Eventually  all  reunited.  Revs.  L.  Taylor  and  Lewis 
E.  Matson  bring  us  to  the  present  incumbent,  Rev. 


Chas.  H.  Richards,  whose  talents  and  good  qualities 
have  made  him  a  gain  to  the  community.  Arriving 
in  March,  1867,  he  has  assisted  in  the  later  develop- 
ments of  the  church,  amono-  which  must  be  noted  the 
elegant  edifice,  capable  of  seating  one  thousand  per- 
sons. The  bell  in  the  tower  was  given  by  Mrs.  L.  A. 
Richards,  and  was  at  that  time  the  heaviest  in  the 
city;  but  the  "Bishops'  Bell,"  in  Grace  Church  chime 
is  five  hundred  pounds  heavier. 


HISTORY    OF    MADISOX.  1^5 

The  Presbyterian  Charcli  was  at  first  identified  with 
other  organizations.  Rev.  H.  B.  Gardiner  was  re- 
tained  by  the  congregation  in  1851  at  Lewis  Hall, 
The  building  since  used  as  a  bakery  by  Mr.  Miner,  at 
the  corner  of  Mifflin  and  Carroll  streets,  was  next 
occupied,  and  in  1853,  the  church  moved  into  the 
frame  building,  corner  of  "Wisconsin  avenue  and 
Johnson  street.  The  several  pastors  have  been  the 
Revs.  Win.  L.  Green,  Edward  G.  Read  and  Richard 
V.  Dodge,  until  we  reach  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
L.  Y.  Havs,  who  has  served  since  1873,  maintaining 
unabated  popularity  and  usefulness,  and  taking  a 
praiseworthy  part  in  many  movements  outside  the 
church. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  Decem- 
ber, 1817,  by  the  Rev.  H.  W.  Read,  his  successors  be- 
ing the  Revs.  John  Williams,  S.  S.  Whitman,  M.  D. 
Miller,  James  Cooper  and  Wm.  R.  Brooks,  whose 
pastorate  ended  in  1858.  There  were  many  preachers 
for  brief  terms.  In  the  summer  of  1860,  Rev.  W.  II. 
Brisbane  became  pastor,  but  resigned  to  become  chap- 
lain of  the  first  Wisconsin  cavalry  regiment.  Rev. 
J.  E.  Johnson  assumed  pastoral  charge  in  1863,  and 
he  was  followed  in  succession  by  Revs.  J.  C.  C.  Clarke, 
Mr.  Paige  and  Thomas  Bright,  who  came  to  the  city 
in  1873,  and  rendered  acceptable  service  until  his 
lamentable  sudden  death  in  the  pulpit,  in  September, 
1876. 

The  German  Evangelical  Association  commenced 
operations  in  1811,  when  the  missionary,  Rev.  J.  G. 


,106  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

Miller,  having-  found  German  families  in  Madison, 
held  service  in  their  houses.  The  whole  of  Wiscon- 
sin was  his  parish,  and  his  salary  was  $41  in  1845, 
increasing  to  $47  the  second  year.  His  successors 
were  the  Revs.  J.  Eply  and  M.  Howard,  hut  Mr. 
Miller  was  still  a  frequent  visitor.  Revs.  C.  Sclmake 
and  W.  Strasberger  commenced  a  church  building 
between  Broome  and  Bassett  streets,  which  was  fin- 
ished by  Mr.  Miller  in  1856.  The  church  oa-Pinck- 
ney  street,  corner  of  Mifflin,  was  built  in  1865,  under 
the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Rev.  W.  F.  Schneider,  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Revs.  C.  F.  Finger  and  Chas.  Schneider. 

The  German  Lutheran  Church  has  erected  two 
buildings,  the  first  on  Main  street,  in  1858,  near  the 
railroad  depot,  on  block  forty-four;  the  second,  ten 
years  later,  on  Washington  avenue  and  West  Canal 
street.  The  organization  dates  from  1856.  Rev.  H. 
Yogel,  was  pastor  until  1872,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Christian  Wilke. 

The  German  Methodist  Church,  Rev.  Mr.  Walker, 
pastor,  was  built  in  1864,  on  the  corner  of  Mifflin  and 
Webster  streets. 

The  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church,  on  the  corner  of 
Hamilton  and  Bntler  streets,  was  erected  in  1862. 
Rev.  II.  A.  Preuss  is  pastor. 

The  Hebrew  Congregation  Schaare  Schoymayn,  of 
which  the  Rev.  J  M.  Thuringer  is  Rabbi,  hold  services 
every  Saturday  at  10  A.  M.,  in  the  Synagogue  on 
Washington  avenue,  between  Henry  and  Fairchild 
streets. 


Hon.  David  Atwood. 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  ]Q9 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

NEWSPAPER   HISTORY. 

A  Scotchman  who  had  seen  the  Stuart  dynasty 
sung  from  a  throne,  said:  "Let  me  make  a  nation's 
ballads,  and  who  will,  may  make  its  laws."  Newspa- 
pers have  superseded  ballads.  Journalism,  the  popu- 
lar voice  in  type,  is  the  foe  of  usurpation.  The 
growth  of  our  press  has  been  wonderful.  While 
Captain  Carver  diplomatized  among  the  Indians  here, 
the  newspaper  advanced  from  an  advertising  sheet  to 
a  political  power.  Before  King'  George  rewarded 
Carver  with  a  grant,  the  press  had  defeated  the  mon- 
arch. The  stamp  act  might  have  been  fought  in 
vain,  but  for  our  journals.  Henry  would  have  roused 
a  small  circle,  but  there  would  have  been  no  national 
soul.  Journalism  was  the  bond  of  union  that  saved 
the  colonies.  Charles  Carroll,  in  the  Maryland  Ga- 
zette, indorsed  Patrick  Henry,  and  every  liberal  sheet 
responded.  The  Gazette,  in  Pennsylvania ;  the  New- 
port Mercury,  R.  L,  answered  the  call,  and  the  Mer- 
cury was  suppressed  in  vain.  Charleston  papers  took 
up  the  strain ;  New  York  sons  of  liberty  shouted  for 
freedom.  The  Boston  Gazette  echoed  the  words  of 
Henry,  backed  by  Adams,  and  a  pamphlet  in  London 
disseminated  that  utterance,  in  spite  of  the  British 
government.     Within  one  year  the  king  was  discom- 


110  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

fited,  the  stamp  act  repealed.  That  was  the  begin- 
ning, and  the  end  was  near.  "I  am  the  State,"  said 
Louis  XIV.  With  greater  truth  the  press  could  have 
said,  "I  am  the  Evolution."  The  newspaper  was 
the  weapon,  without  which  there  had  been  no  Bunker 
Hill,  no  world  renowned  Declaration. 

The  Enquirer,  published  by  Noonan,  was  small, 
but  it  had  power.  His  share  in  the  transaction  ap- 
pears elsewhere.  George  Hyer,  who  set  the  first  type, 
lias  been  mentioned  with  honor.  The  partnerships 
of  Sholes,  Noonan,  Hyer  and  Judge  Ivnapp,  are  sto- 
ries often  told.  Heed  changed  the  sheet  from  Demo- 
cratic  to  Whig,  and  in  1844,  the  changeling  died. 
Politics,  in  the  early  settlement,  were  for  and  against 
the  commissioners.  When  the  capitol  ceased  to  sup- 
ply pabulum,  a  Democratic  pioneer  says,  "  we  went 
where  we  belonged." 

Party  lines  were  observed  when  the  Wisconsin 
Express  appeared,  in  1839.  Wyman  sold  the  paper 
to  D.  At  wood  and  Royal  Buck,  who  afterwards  con- 
solidated with  the  Statesman.  Its  politics  were 
Whig.  Wyman  was  a  hard  hitter.  When  Ream  and 
Clark  were  candidates  for  the  office  of  register,  the 
former  winning  by  two  votes,  Wyman  made  affidavit 
and  published,  that  the  canvassers  had  suppressed 
returns.  Ream  confirms  that  statement,  saying:  "I 
found  myself  elected  by  two  votes,  which  much  sur- 
prised me  ....  until" ....  a  friend  explained  ....  after 

exacting  secrecy that  the  extra  vote  was  obtained 

by  strategy,  to  make  my  election  sure."     Wyman  is 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON.  Ill 

fortified,  but  the  canvasser  says:  "Save  me  from  my 
friends." 

Knapp  and  Delaney  brought  out  the  Wisconsin 
Democrat  in  1812,  which  died  eighteen  months  later, 
in  the  hands  of  J.  P.  Sheldon  and  Geo.  Hyer.  The 
same  name  was  used  for  a  paper  in  1816,  by  Beriah 
Brown.  That  organ  combined  with  the  Wisconsin 
Argus.  "While  two  papers  were  running,  both  offices 
wanted  the  government  printing.  The  Argus,  some 
months  older  than  the  Democrat,  rested  on  its  anti- 
quity. Beriah  Brown  relied  on  shell  fish,  and  the 
wire  puller  won.  A  caucus  being  called  to  settle  the 
question,  a  member  unseared  by  corruption,  said: 
"  "We  have  eat  Brown's  oysters  and  drinked  his  liquor. 
We  can't  go  back  on  Brown."  Beriah  succeeded  in 
taking  the  Argus,  as  well  as  the  patronage. 

The  Wisconsin  Argus  was  published  by  S.  Mills  & 
Co.,  with  John  Y.  Smith,  editor.  H.  A.  Tenney 
joined,  when  the  firm  of  Tenney,  Smith  &  Holt  was 
established.  Two  of  the  firm  sold  to  S.  D.  Carpen- 
ter, and  Mr.  Tenney  remained  until  1852,  when  the 
consolidation  followed.  "  Old  Hunkers  "  and  "  Tad- 
poles," the  divisions  of  the  Democratic  party,  took 
their  "  feast  of  reason "  in  one  sheet.  Mr.  Carpen- 
ter retired,  and  Beriah  "  played  it  alone  "  until  July, 
1851,  when  E.  A.  Calkins,  since  of  the  Milwaukee 
News,  joined  the  staff.  Calkins  &  Proud  fit  became 
proprietors.  Two  years  later,  J.  K.  Proudfit  sold  to 
Mr.  "Webb.  The  paper  suffered  from  tightness  of  the 
i.hest,  and  Beriah  Brown  was  called  in,  but  after  three 


112  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

months  vigorous  treatment  there  were  no  signs  of  in- 
creasing vitality.  Brown  left  Webb  &  Calkins,  and 
the  paper  breathed  its  last.  There  was  a  resurrection, 
but  Calkins  &  Cullaton  could  not  make  it  2:0.  Calk- 
ins  sold  out,  other  editors  gave  vigorous  support  to 
the  war  policy  of  Lincoln,  but  the  paper  would  not 
live. 

"VVyman  brought  out  the  Statesman  in  1850.  "Wil- 
liam Welch  was  one  of  its  editors.  Wyman  &  Bugh 
assumed  the  management  in  1851,  and  at  last  consol- 
idated with  the  Express.  The  Wisconsin  State  Pal- 
ladium resulted.  Atwood,  Wyman  &  Buck  did  not 
harmonize,  and  the  paper  was  suspended.  The  State 
Journal  made  its  appearance,  with  David  Atwood  as 
editor  and  proprietor,  in  September,  1852,  the  Repub- 
lican party  accepting  the  Journal  as  its  organ.  Sev- 
eral additions  and  alterations  have  worked  no  change 
in  the  politics  of  the  paper.  Mr.  Rublee,  Mr.  Gary, 
Mr.  Reed  and  Mr.  Culver  have  supported  the  ven- 
ture, making  it  one  of  the  best  journalistic  proper- 
ties in  the  state;  with  one  of  the  most  complete 
printing  offices  west  of  Chicago. 

Earlier  phases  of  newspaper  activity  are  illustrated 
by  a  sketch  from  the  State  Journal.  Mr.  D.  E. 
Tenneyls  identified  with  this  city,  and  the  phrases  of 
Col.  Bird  are  true  to  life: 

"  Twenty-six  years  ago,  Dan.  K.  Tenney  put  up  at 
the  "  United  States  Hotel,"  with  two  "  bits  "  in  his 
pocket.  Col.  A.  A.  Bird  was  landlord.  Said  Dan, 
"  Two  bits  sizes  my  pile;  but  I'd  like  to  stay  here 


1IIST0KY    OF    MADISON. 


115 


over  night  and  see  what  I  can  do  to-morrow."  The 
Colonel  (good  old  soul  as  ever  lived)  looked  at  his 
new  guest,  and  replied:  "O  Gael,  yes;  stay  as  long 
as  you  like,  hoy!  Have  some  supper?  O,  Gad,  yes; 
come  in.  Stay  as  long  as  you  please."  Dan  had 
supper  and  a  night's  lodging,  and  in  the  morning 
struck  a  printing  office,  and  secured  a  "  sit."  Getting 
a  little  money,  Dan  next  turned  up  in  the  University. 
He  got  as  much  as  they  could  spare  in  that  institu- 
tion and  returned  to  the  printing  office  (the  Journal, 
a  wee  hit  of  a  paper  then),  working  along,  until  toil 
and  no  fortune  seemed  foolishness.  One  day,  all  hands 
were  "  jeffing"on  the  stone  to  see  who  should  get  a 
pail  full  of  whisky,  when  Dan.  spoke  up:  "  Who  the 
d — I's  got  any  money- in  this  crowd?"  Nobody,  of 
course;  and  the  "  devil  "'  had  to  go  down  and  "  stand 
off"  old  "  Jackknife "  Robinson  for  a  couple  of 
quarts.  After  this  amount  had  been  disposed  of,  it 
struck  Dan  that  printers  were  fools  to  be  pulling 
hand  press  and  sticking  small  pica,  so  he  remarked: 
"Good  bye,  boys;  you  are  all  condemned  fools  if  you 
stay  here?  I'm  going  to  study  law  and  make  some- 
thing." Dan  started  for  Portage,  where  he  met  his 
brother  H.  "W.  "  I've  come  up  to  study  law  with 
you,  by  thunder."  H.  \Y.  replied  sharply,  "You 
have?  You  are  a  darned  fool;  you'd  better  stick  to 
printing.  You'll  cut  a  hog  in  twTo  studying  law? 
But  if  you  are  bound  to  stick  to  law,  you  can  see  what 
you  can  do  turning  those  eighty  acres  of  mine  into 
city  lots,  and  selling  them."     This  was  Dan's  first 


110  IIISTOEY   OF   MADISON. 

job.  He  succeeded,  stuck  to  the  law  and  kept  out  of 
a  printing  office,  except  when  briefs  and  other  jobs 
were  required.  We  don't  know  how  Dan  counts  his 
thousands  in  Chicago,  but  he  has  just  erected  a  hand- 
some block,  on  the  spot  where  Col.  Bird,  twenty-six 
years  ago,  took  him  in,  with  only  two  "  bits,"  in  his 
pocket.  ( 

There  were  wild  jokers  in  the  printing  offices,  men 
for  whom  a  hen-roost  had  no  sacredness;  fellows  as 
full  of  deviltry  as  Falstaff  on  Gad's  Hill,  but  more 
courage.  One  of  the  Tenney's  possessed  a  choice 
assortment  of  poultry.  One  night,  when  the  devil 
failed  to  scare  np  copy,  that  power  of  darkness  found 
occupation  for  idle  hands,  purloining  capons  from  the 
foreman  to  make  a  feast  for  the  father  of  the  chapel. 
There  were  two  Tenneys  in  the  business,  but  II.  A., 
to  whom  the  poultry  belonged,  warmly  approved  the 
banquet.  He  said  the  foragers  should  revisit  the  hen 
roost,  and  they  did  so.  There  may  be  no  truth,  but 
there  is  poetical  justice  in  \hefowl  invention.  D.  K. 
Tenney  says:  "Have  not  all  my  happy  days  for  twen- 
ty-six years  been  spent  in  Madison?"  Was  the  hap- 
piest day  that  night?  The  boys  cleared  his  brother's 
hen-roosts  like  the  grasshoppers  scooped  Kansas? 

The  Wisconsin  Patriot  has  more  than  one  eventful 
history.  Gathered  to  "the  tomb  of  the  Capulets,"  it 
is  still  a  power.  The  first  number  appeared  twenty- 
two  years  ago.  The  proprietors  and  editors  were  J. 
T.  Marston  and  H.  A.  Tenney.  Tenney  sold  to  S.  D. 
Carpenter,  who   subsequently  bought   out   Marston. 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  117 

The  firm  of  S.  D.  and  S.  H.  Carpenter  ran  for  some 
time,  bnt  after  many  changes,  S.  H.  Carpenter,  our 
much  respected  "Professor  of  Logic  and  Literature," 
sold  to  Mr.  Law,  who  was  associated  with  S.  D.  Car- 
penter about  a  year.  The  Patriot  saw  many  changes 
which  would  be  tedious  to  narrate.  The  management 
at  the  present  time  is  in  the  hands  of  II.  A.  Tenney 
and  S.  D.  Carpenter,  but  their  business  arrangements 
are  not  matters  of  history.  Two  men  so  intimately 
identified  with  the  press  of  this  city,  deserve  a  notice 
embracing  more  than  their  Madison  engagements. 
Major  Tenney,  from  whose  sketches  we  have  freely 
quoted,  came  in  1845,  but  went  to  Galena,  and  did 
not  buy  into  the  Wisconsin  Argus  until  1846.  He 
was  government  printer  in  1847  and  the  following 
year.  When  the  constitutional  convention  assembled, 
he  was  reporter,  and  again  in  1848.  Directly  and  in- 
directly he  was  state  printer  until  1852,  when  ill 
health  compelled  his  retirement  from  the  Argus. 
The  Major,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Patriot,  sold 
out  to  his  old  partner.  Mr.  Tenney's  services  to  the 
University  are  matters  of  history.  His  position  as 
assistant  state  geologist,  enabled  him  to  aid  the  Uni- 
versity collections  largely.  In  1857,  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  legislature,  and  introduced  the  bill  for  the 
new  capitol.  In  the  following  year  he  was  comptrol- 
ler of  state,  and  one  of  the  regents  of  the  university. 
His  services  at  Camp  Kandall  need  not  be  enumer- 
ated, nor  his  appointments  in  the  U.  S.  A.  He  was 
special  agent  of  the  P.  O.  department  until  1864.    In 


118  HISTORY   OF   MADISON. 

1869-70,  lie  was  associate  editor  of  the  Chicago  Jie- 
publican,  moving  to  similar  duties  on  the  Post,  and 
on  the  St.  Paul  Pioneer  in  1872.  He  became  clerk 
of  the  railroad  commission  in  1874,  is  the  oldest  Mad- 
ison editor  surviving  in  "Wisconsin,  and  not  yet  tired 
of  the  drudgery  of  the  press.  When  he  began  there 
were  but  nine  exchanges,  few  of  which  have  survived. 
Mr.  S.  D.  Carpenter  settled  in  Madison  in  1850, 
and  was  identified  in  succession  with  the  Argus,  and 
the  Argus  and  Democrat,  from  which  having  retired 
he  devoted  his  genius  for  mechanics,  to  invention. 
The  pump,  to  which  he  is  indebted  for  a  pseudonym, 
was  invented  in  1853,  and  he  sold  rights  to  the  extent 
of  nearly  $35,000.  Qnce  more  in  newspaper  life,  Mr. 
Carpenter  became  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Pat- 
riot. Its  politics  were  eventually  war  democratic. 
The  well  known  claim  for  damages  against  the  state, 
dates  from  1864.  During  that  year  Mr.  Carpenter 
devised  a  power  press,  on  the  model  now  largely  used, 
feeding  from  paper  in  the  roll,  and  he  claims  to  have 
originated  that  plan.  The  invention  of  an  automatic 
grain  binder  employed  nine  years,  and  about  $40,000. 
It  is  claimed  that  every  device  now  operating  for  that 
purpose,  took  its  rise  in  Mr.  Carpenter's  ingenuity. 
His  inventions  were  sold  to  McCormick  &  Co.,  because 
a  fortune  was  wanted  to  establish  his  rights,  and  fur- 
nish machines.  His  veneer  cutting  and  other  inven- 
tions cannot  be  glanced  at;  suffice  it  to  say  that  few 
men  have  excelled  him  in  variety  and  originality  of 
design  for  labor-saving  machinery. 


Dan.  K.  Tenney,  Esq. 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 


121 


The  Daily  Capitol,  published  by  W.  J.  Park  & 
Co.,  with  Col.  Calkins  as  editor,  appeared  on  the  day 
on  which  President  Lincoln  was  shot.  It  was  a  racy, 
nonpartizan  daily,  eventually  incorporated  with  the 
Democrat,  which  was  established  in  1865,  by  Hyer 
&  Fernandez,  and  bought  by  A.  E.  Gordon.  The 
title  was  then  changed  from  Wisconsin  to  Madison 
Democrat.  Mr.  Bajmier  is  now  editor  and  proprietor, 
having  succeeded  the  firm  of  J.  B.  Parkinson  &  Co., 
which  purchased  from  Gordon. 

The  Journal  of  Education  originated  in  Janesville, 
but  was  transferred  to  this  city.  Col.  J.  G.  McMynn, 
afterwards  state  superintendent,  was  its  editor,  suc- 
ceeded by  A.  J.  Craig,  also  state  superintendent. 
Itev.  J.  B.  Pradt  is  now  one  of  the  editors.  Discon- 
tinued in  1865,  in  consequence  of  a  withdrawal  of 
state  support,  it  was  resumed  when  partial  aid  was 
afforded.  Several  substitutes  started  elsewhere,  but 
they  do  not  come  within  our  limits.  "When  Gen. 
Fallows  succeeded  as  state  superintendent,  upon  the 
death  of  Mr.  Craig,  he  revived  the  Journal,  and 
Superintendent  Searing  continues  the  publication. 

The  Wisconsin  Farmer,  commenced  under  another 
name  in  Janesville,  was  removed  to  this  city  in  1855, 
the  interest  of  one  proprietor  being  purchased  by  E. 
W.  Skinner  and  D.  J.  Powers.  The  paper  was  con- 
ducted with  great  energy  by  Dr.  J.  W.  Hoyt,  assisted 
by  the  skillful  pen  of  his  wife.  The  paper  died  after 
twenty  years  of  struggle,  beaten  by  extensive  capital 
in  such  enterprises  in  eastern  cities.     The  Norse  press 


122  HISTORY    OF   MADISON. 

has  had  severe  vicissitudes.  Many  courageous  efforts 
have  failed;  none  conducted  with  first  class  talent, 
nearly  all  have  been  respectable.  The  names  of  some 
failures  are  given,  but  some  may  have  escaped  notice: 
De  Norskes  Ven,  Friend  of  the  Norseman;  Den 
Norshe  Amerikaner,  American  Norseman;  the 
Nordstjemen,  Northern  Star;  Immigranten;  Billed 
(or  illustrated)  Magazine;  Imigranten;  Den  Liber- 
ale  Democrat,  and  Wisconsin  Banner,  have  all  per- 
ished. There  remains  only  to-day  the  JVordvesten,.  a 
liberal  democratic  weekly,  edited  and  published  by  L. 
J.  Grinde.  The  JVordvesten  deserves  success.  Ole 
Torgerson's  De  Norskes  Ven  was  the  first  paper  in  a 
foreign  tongue  in  this  county.  It  was  whig  in  poli- 
tics, and  appeared  in  1850,  but  a  few  months  ended 
its  career.  Den  JVorske  Amerikaner  appeared  in 
December  1854,  and  died  in 'May,  1857.  "The  Scan- 
dinavian Democratic  Press  Association  "  brought  out 
the  JSfordstjernen  in  1857.  Their  effort  was  not  suc- 
cessful, although  changes  of  management  were  tried. 
The  JEmigranten  was  brought  to  this  city  from 
Immansville,  Rock  county,  but  after  years  of  partial 
success,  that  also  was  gathered  to  its  fathers.  There 
have  been  several  fugitive  periodicals  of  a  religious 
character. 

The  German  population  supports  the  Wisconsin 
Botschafter,  started  by  Porsch  and  Sitzman  in  1869. 
There  have  been  several  German  papers,  but  none 
have  prospered.  The  Staats  Zietung,  democratic, 
edited  by  August  Kruer,  continued  two  years.     The 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  123 

Madison  Zietung,  republican,  hardly  lived  two  years. 
The  Madison  Demokrat,  published  in  1858,  perished 
in  1860. 

The  Madison  Capitol  was  started  in  1855  by  J. 
Nolan.  The  True  American,  edited  by  an  association, 
appeared  during  the  same  year.  The  Western  Fire- 
side, by  S.  H.  Carpenter  in  1857.  The  Higher  Law, 
by  Herbert  Reed,  in  1861;  and  the  Soldier's  Record, 
by  S.  W.  Martin  in  1864.  Our  educational  interests 
were  served  by  the  Northwestexn  Journal  of  Edu- 
cation, Science  and  Literature,  in  1850,  under  the 
editorship  of  Prof.  O.  M.  Conover,  and  by  the  Free 
School  Journal,  edited  by  J.  L.  Enos.  Of  Dr.  Hunt's 
ephemeral,  the  "  Old  Oaken  Bucket,"  a  temperance 
paper,  we  can  only  say,  Requiescat  in  pace.  The  Stu- 
dent's Miscellany  was  commenced  during  the  session 
of  1857,  and  its  tone  reflects  credit  on  the  manage- 
ment. The  Home  Diary  is  a  sparkling  occasional  paper 
edited  by  Y.  J.  Welch,  which  deals  vigorously  with 
every  topic  that  is  touched.  A  paragraph,  denounc- 
ing the  shortcomings  of  Park  &  Co.,  in  selling  a  copy 
of  Burns'  poems  without  "  Holy  Willie's  Prayer,"  is 
a  favorable  specimen  of  the  style,  which  we  subjoin: 

"Friends!  be  cautious  in  buying  Burns'  poems. 
We  were  saddled  with  a  copy  recently  in  which 
"  Holy  Willie's  Prayer  "  was  omitted.  Park  sold  it 
to  us.  He  is  a  Scotchman.  He  is  one  of  the  "  pres- 
byt'ry  of  Ayr." 

"  Lord,  hear  my  earnest  cry  and  pray'r, 
Against  the  presbyt'ry  of  Ayr; 
Thy  strong  right  hand,  Lord,  make  it  bare." 


124  HISTOKY    OF    MADISON. 


CHAPTER    IX. 


MERCHANTS   AND   BANKERS. 

Gkeat  changes  have  come  since  Madison  was  set- 
tied  by  four  housekeepers,  who  procured  supplies  from 
the  peddler's  cart  and  the  post  office  store.  There 
were  bright  fellows  in  the  settlement,  but  they  dis- 
pensed with  much  that  we  deem  essential.  Tom  Jack- 
son, the  Scotchman,  whose  whip-saw  cut  lumber  for  the 
capitol,  before  Wheeler  was  ready,  was  almost  a  man- 
ufactory. Tom  illustrated  the  possibility  of  doing 
without  indispensables,  but  not  as  they  do  in  some 
parts  of  Scotland.  His  old  log  house  was  on  fire,  and 
the  last  glass  had  dulled  his  wits.  Tumbling  out  of 
bed,  Tom,  who  was  called  Jack  for  brevity,  pushed 
his  lower  limbs  through  the  sleeves  of  his  jacket,  and 
with  many  an  adjective  declared  that  "  some  fellow 
had  cut  off  the  legs  of  his  pantaloons."  The  better 
appliances  of  life  were  more  remote  than  the  seedy 
unmentionables  of  Tom  Jackson.  Everything  was  in 
the  rough.  The  park  was  the  forest  primeval.  Prai- 
rie fires  annually  crossed  from  marsh  to  marsh.  Game 
was  abundant.  Prairie  chickens  and  quail  were  shot 
in  the  village,  where  bears,  wolves  and  deer  were  not 
strangers.  Many  years  later  Col.  Bird's  hotel  stood 
in  an  unbroken  forest,  and  trees  that  now  ornament 


HISTOKY   OF   MADISON.  125 

the  park  were  planted  at  the  instance  of  Judge  Knapp, 
who  risked  having  to  pay  for  the  improvements.  The 
woods  abounded  with  game,  and  deer  were  particu- 
larly plentiful  until  1849,  when  the  Winnebagoes 
killed  500  near  the  Asylum.  They  would  have  cleared 
the  country,  but  the  settlers  interfered.  The  supply 
was  important,  when  any  man  might  depend  on  his 
skill  for  a  dinner.  The  commissioners'  store  was  not 
the  pioneer.  Simeon  Mills  was  deputy  postmaster 
and  storekeeper  before  July,  1837.  Mr.  Catlin,  his 
partner,  says  that  barrels  of  salt  and  flour,  hauled  from 
Galena,  were  then  worth  $30  and  $20  each.  "  Wild 
cat  currency  "  was  the  circulating  medium,  and  the 
notes  of  Judge  Doty  were  at  a  premium.  The  legis- 
lature, during  the  session  of  1838-9,  passed  a  "stay 
law "  against  recovering  debts.  The  predominant 
sentiment  of  the  community  was  hatred  of  banks. 
'Squire  Seymour  says  that  in  1839  there  were  two 
stores,  three  groceries,  a  steam  mill,  three  public 
houses,  and  in  all  thirty-five  buildings.  Dr.  Chap- 
man mentions,  in  1846,  Shields  &  Sneden,  Finch  & 
Blanchard,  and  E.  B.  Dean  &  Co.,  as  the  storekeepers 
of  the  village.  Fairchild's  store  came  next.  The 
population  had  increased  from  62  to  283.  The  doctor 
was  told  there  were  400  inhabitants,  but  many  farm- 
ers were  looked  on  as  village  residents.  Messersmith's 
house,  on  Pinckney  street,  was  in  full  blast,  with  a 
"wet  grocery"  down  stairs  and  "the  tiger"  above. 

The  first  help  to  Madison  was  the  location  of  the 
capitol.     The  next,  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Farwell,  who 


126  HISTOKY   OF    MADISON. 

invested  money  and  energies  in  permanent  imj)rove- 
ments.  His  fortune  was  not  large,  and  part  was  in- 
vested elsewhere,  bnt  he  brought  the  reputation  of 
wealth,  and  turned  it  to  excellent  account.  He  sys- 
tematically made  known  the  beauties  and  excellences 
of  the  locality,  and  induced  others  to  invest.  His 
coming  gave  an  impetus,  labor  acquired  value,  real 
estate  changed  hands,  roads  were  opened  and  cleared; 
the  press  all  over  the  union  had  paragraphs  about 
Madison.  We  were  no  longer  out  of  the  world.  The 
marks  left  by  Farwell  can  be  seen  in  our  growth. 

Until  the  capital  was  permanently  located  there  was 
little  progress.  Lobbyists  hoped  that  another  site 
would  be  chosen  when  the  constitution  was  adopted, 
and  Milwaukee  wooed  the  legislature.  Fixity  of 
tenure  could  alone  justify  expenditure  on  property. 
Hence  the  slowness  observable  in  every  branch  of  en- 
terprise. That  period  of  doubt  had  passed  when  Mr. 
Farwell  came  and  invested  in  real  estate  in  1848. 
The  business  advantages  and  beauty  of  Madison  were 
his  constant  themes,  and  he  spared  no  expense  in  giv- 
ing them  publicity.  Remunerative  works  on  a  large 
scale  were  undertaken.  Mendota  was  dammed  at  its 
outlet,  increasing  the  fall  two  feet,  and  Monona,  low- 
ered by  the  removal  of  an  old  obstruction,  made  a 
further  improvement.  Farwell  became  more  benefi- 
cially associated  with  the  growth  of  Madison  than 
any  of  its  pioneers.  The  inexhaustible  reservoir,  thus 
turned  to  account  for  industrial  enterprise,  created  a 
demand  for  workmen.     The  lakes  unfolded  a  promise 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 


127 


of  wealth.  "When  H.  A.  Tenney  came,  lie  was  intro- 
duced by  J.  A.  Noonan  to  all  the  celebrities  in  a  few 
minutes.  The  little  coterie  in  1845  numbered  few 
besides  Governor  Dodge,  Secretary  Floyd,  Judges 
Dunn,  Irvin  and  Miller,  George  P.  Delaplaine  and 
Mr.  Mills.  Manufactures  and  enterprise  changed  the 
aspect  of  society.  Until  Mr  Farwell  came,  the  place 
had  never  been  thought  worthy  of  a  circus.  When 
that  distinction  was  attained  the  legislature  adjourned 
to  see  the  show.  The  villagers  had  depended  on  each 
other  for  amusements,  but  there  had  been  ample 
leisure. 

Improvements  were  made  rapidly,  and  golden  vis- 
ions were  common.  The  circuitous  Yahara  was  su- 
perseded by  a  straight  canal.  At  the  outlet  of  Men- 
dota  a  long  building  contained  a  saw  and  grist  mill. 
Tibbits  and  Gordon  built  their  brewery  below  the 
mill,  and  the  court  house  was  commenced  in  1849. 
The  old  jail,  once  let  as  a  shoemakers'  shop,  no  longer 
met  the  wants  of  the  community.  Farwell  started, 
his  grist  and  flouring  mill  in  1850,  and  opened  two 
roads  across  the  Yahara.  The  first  dormitory  at  the 
university  was  erected  in  1850,  in  a  thicket  remote 
from  the  village,  hardly  approachable.  Prominent 
citizens  began  more  beautiful  homes  and  other  im- 
provements. Men  became  speculative.  Ditching, 
planking  and  planting  Washington  Avenue,  by  Mr. 
Farwell,  was  an  act  that  found  no  competitors,  but  in 
other  ways  his  conduct  provoked  a  spirit  of  emula- 
tion. 


128  IIISTOKY    OF    MADISOX. 

The  years  1851-2  were  prolific  in  the  erection  of 
business  blocks.  Public  houses  were  found  inadequate 
and  the  Capital  House  was  commenced  by  associated 
effort.  Messrs.  Yilas,  Fairchild  and  Farwell  bought 
the  venture  in  1853,  and  the  hotel  was  completed  be- 
fore the  fall.  Madison  was  a  paradise  for  builders. 
The  best  positions  were  rapidly  occupied  for  business. 
The  Presbyterian  church  was  finished,  the  founda- 
tions of  the  Catholic  church  laid,  and  the  Milwau- 
kee and  Mississippi  railroad  company  commenced 
building  their  depot  in  a  growth  of  coppice  wood  on 
the  spot  occupied  by  the  successors  of  that  company. 
Early  in  1851  the  depot  was  ready,  the  bridge  con- 
structed and  the  first  train  of  passenger  cars  arrived. 
The  celebration  took  place  on  Tuesday,  May  23,  1851. 
That  was  a  great  day  for  Madison  and  the  surrounding 
country.  Other  works  were  undertaken  during  the 
year,  including  a  fire-proof  structure  for  the  safe 
keeping  of  the  state  registry,  a  new  bridge  across  the 
Yahara,  a  brick  church  for  the  Baptists,  the  second 
dormitory  of  the  university,  the  extension  of  Wash- 
ington Avenue,  specially  due  to  the  liberality  of  Ex- 
Governor  Farwell,  and  the  commencement  of  the  asy- 
lum for  the  insane.  Men  assumed  that  there  would 
be  a  population  of  ten  thousand  here  within  two 
years.  There  was  a  woolen  factory,  a  flouring  mill,  a 
grist  mill,  two  saw  mills,  an  oil  mill,  a  mill  for  saw- 
ing stone,  foundry  and  machine  shops,  two  steam 
planing  mills,  besides  other  extensive  undertakings, 
three  daily  papers  and  five  weeklies,  and  a  sale  of 


HISTOKY    OF   MADISOX.  120 

more  than  $500,000  worth  of  produce  during  1854-5. 
Seymour's  Madison  Directory,  in  1855,  gave  excellent 
grounds  for  anticipating  rapid  growth.  The  popula- 
tion was  nearly  seven  thousand.  Ex-Governor  Far- 
well  was  offering  desirable  lots,  with  credit,  extending 
ten  years  if  required,  provided  that  purchasers  should 
occupy  and  improve.  Telegraph  lines  connected  Mad- 
ison with  the  whole  circle  of  civilization.  Goods 
could  he  purchased  at  little  advance  on  the  charges  in 
any  metropolitan  city,  and  some  storekeepers  said 
much  cheaper.  The  American  Express  Company  had 
an  office,  the  Madison  Mutual  Ins.  Co.  had  entered  upon 
its  successful  career,  and  other  companies  had  opened 
agencies.  The  State  Agricultural  Society  had  rooms 
in  Br uen's  Block,  and  there  was  every  facility  for 
coming  into  the  world  with  the  aid  of  science,  re- 
maining, with  all  the  graces  that  art  and  dry  goods 
could  afford,  and  at  the  last  being  undertaken  for,  in 
a  style  replete  with  grace  and  finish,  so  that  the  end 
crowned  the  work.  There  were  banks,  a  water  cure, 
and  it  is  difficult  to  imagine  a  want  which  Madison 
had  not  appliances  for  immediately  satisfying.  Over 
three  hundred  and  fifty  houses  were  built  in  1851. 

The  Madison  Hydraulic  Company,  to  supply  water 
from  Lake  Mendota,  was  a  failure;  there  was  a  dif- 
ficulty in  procuring  capital.  The  Gas  Company 
seemed  to  be  in  danger,  but  the  secretary,  B.  F.  Hop- 
kins, leased  the  works,  and  made  the  enterprise  a  suc- 
cess. In  the  same  year,  Ex-Governor  Farwell  com- 
menced the  residence,  which  was  purchased  as  a 
9 


130  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

"Hospital  for  wounded  Soldiers,"  next  occupied  by 
the  "  Soldiers'  Orphans,"  then  given  to  the  State 
University,  and  since  sold  to  be  used  as  a  Theological 
Seminary  and  College,  by  the  Norwegians.  Rapidly 
as  the  building  mania  spread,  every  new  comer  was 
forced  to  build,  if  his  means  would  permit,  so  con- 
tinuous was  the  demand.  Trade  prospects  grew 
more  encouraging,  school  houses  were  required,  and 
churches  well  sustained.  Madison  became  a  city  on 
the  fourth  of  March,  1856,  and  Colonel  Fairchild  was 
its  first  mayor.  The  necessity  for  school  houses  was 
recognized  by  the  city  council,  and  $24,000  appropri- 
ated to  erect  schools.  The  City  Hall  was  commenced 
in  1857,  and  the  main  building  of  the  University 
was  awarded  to  contractors,  to  be  finished  before 
November,  1858.  The  log  house  erected  for  Eben 
Peck  was  saved  from  falling  by  being  torn  down, 
after  twenty  years'  service.  About  the  same  time,  as 
if  the  old  "  tavern  stand "  must  be  identified  with 
the  capital,  there  was  a  new  proposition  to  remove. 
The  capitol  was  dilapidated,  and  rivals  said  that  as  a 
new  structure  must  be  raised,  the  time  was  favorable 
for  a  transfer.  The  city  authorities  met  the  difficulty 
by  donating  $50,000  in  bonds,  towards  erecting  the 
present  edifice.  That  settled  the  question.  "While 
affairs  were  thus  progressing,  came  the  financial  crisis 
of  1857.  The  crash  was  disastrous  to  Madison.  Mil- 
waukee availed  itself  of  the  confusion,  to  renew  the 
attempt  to  remove  the  seat  of  government.  Upon 
the  third  reading  of  the  bill,  there  was  a  tie  vote;  but 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 


131 


by  an  adroit  movement,  the  measure  was  killed  for 
the  session;  delay,  meant  death.  Many  associations 
of  public  value  date  from  this  time,  among  which, 
we  note:  "The  Capitol  Hook  and  Ladder  Company, 
Ko.  1;"  "Mendota  Fire  Engine  Company,  No.  1;" 
'•Madison  Engine  Company,  No.  2;  "  the  "  Govern- 
or's   Guards;"'     the    "Madison    Guards; ':    and    the 


Wisconsin  State  Capitol. 


"Dane  Cavalry."  Already,  the  excitement  arising 
from  the  troubles  in  Kansas,  was  producing  an  effect 
in  military  and  other  organizations. 

The  postoffice  had  long  been  established,  and  well 
served,  but  railroads  had  given  greater  completeness. 
Pioneers  remember  when  the  nearest  postoffice  was 
at  the  City  of  the  Four  Lakes,  from  which  village 
there  was  a  road  partly  cleared  to  Fort  "Winnebago. 


132  niSTORY   OF   MADISON". 

When  Jolm  Catlin  and  liis  deputy  got  into  working 
order,  things  were  better.  Darwin  Clark  remembers 
the  mail  for  the  village  being  brought  in  a  handker- 
chief. Newspapers  increased  the  bulk,  but  for  some 
months  there  was  only  an  occasional  copy  of  the 
Cooperstown  Freeman's  Journal,  which  had  a  won- 
derful circulation  from  hand  to  hand.  There  would 
have  been  more  newspapers,  as  there  were  few  books, 
and  whisky  drinking  was  not  universal;  but  there 
was  a  strike  among  the  hands.  The  men  that  came 
with  Colonel  Bird  signed  articles,  with  the  under- 
standing that  their  pay,  $2.25  per  day,  would  com- 
mence with  the  journey,  but  a  proviso,  that  if  they 
left  within  three  months,  there  were  to  be  deductions. 
The  transit  from  Milwaukee  commencing  on  Wednes- 
day, ended  eleven  days  later,  on  Saturday,  so  that 
there  would  be  a  large  drawback  on  every  man's  pay, 
if  he  should  quit  the  work  prematurely.  The  trouble 
arose  on  the  questions  that  still  agitate  the  Union  — 
paper  money  and  resumption.  The  commissioners 
were  said  to  have  been  paid  the  amount  of  the  con- 
gressional vote,  in  specie,  which  they  had  deposited 
in  the  bank  at  Green  Bay,  the  bills  of  which  estab- 
lishment were  used  for  wages.  The  notes  could  be 
used  with  little  loss  in  the  territory,  but  every  re- 
moval cost  a  "  shave  "  of  from  ten  to  fifteen  per 
cent.,  and  even  then  the  exchange  might  be  made  in 
"  wild  cat "  paper,  that  would  speedily  lose  all  value. 
Hence  the  workmen  demanded  specie  payments,  and 
the  commissioners   deferred   that  operation.     Many 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  133 

would  have  left  at  once,  but  for  the  three  months'  pro- 
viso. A  large  proportion  did  leave  as  soon  as  that 
time  had  expired.  There  was  little  difficulty  in  sup- 
plying their  places.  There  was  not  much  employ- 
ment in  Wisconsin.  Several  strikes  occurred.  The 
stone  cutters,  at  Stone  Quarry  Point,  now  McBride's, 
combined  to  get  higher  wages. 

The  prices  charged  for  everything  were  enormous, 
and  there  was  little  margin,  unless  men  limited  them- 
selves to  bare  necessaries.  A  man  could  get  board  for 
$5.00  per  week,  and  lodge  in  the  dormitory  near  the 
east  gate  of  the  park  —  the  club  house,  sleeping  apart- 
ment and  literary  assembly.  But  as  soon  as  ambi- 
tion suggested  the  desirability  of  personal  adornment, 
or  outlay  for  any  other  purpose,  money  took  wings. 
Would  the  workman  build  a  log  house  to  prepare  for 
matrimony?  The  barrier  was  not  only  that  better 
halves  were  scarce  and  that  the  cost  of  calico  was  pro- 
digious. Pinneo  and  Butterfield  would  have  their 
own  price  for  shingles,  and  the  customer  must  wait 
until  there  was  no  whisky  to  be  had  on  credit. 
Nails  cost  three  shillings  per  pound;  the  brownest  of 
brown  sugar  fetched  a  like  price;  a  pound  of  sperm 
candles  cost  one  dollar,  and  every  article  was  propor- 
tionately dear.  No  wonder  men  struck  for  higher 
wages.  *  Speaking  of  prices,  we  may  revert  to  the 
charges  preferred  against  the  old  commissioners  and 
their  contractor-partner,  "  Uncle  Jim  "  Morrison.  The 
amount  of  the  two  votes  from  congress  —  not  from 
the  territorial  legislature,  for  that  body  had  no  money 


134  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

to  appropriate  —  was  $40,000;  and  when  the  terri- 
torial authorities  brought  suit  against  Morrison,  it 
was  proved  by  measurements  and  vouchers  that  the 
basement  alone  cost  $13,000.  Moses  M.  Strong  was 
the  attorney  for  the  territory,  and  Mr.  Fields  con- 
ducted the  case  for  Morrison,  so  that  there  was  no 
lack  of  zeal  or  ability  on  the  side  of  the  government, 
but  the  action  was  a  failure.  When  the  population 
had  settled  down  to  industrial  pursuits,  upon  the  re- 
turn of  the  citizen  soldiers,  a  directory  was  published, 
in  1866,  by  B.  W.  Suckow.  John  Y.  Smith  was  the 
historian.  Many  prominent  business  men,  in  the 
record  of  1855,  did  not  survive  the  crash  of  1857. 
Those  who  had  invested  in  real  estate,  found  that  item 
the  least  real  among  their  assets.  Ex-Gov.  Farwell 
had  specially  devoted  himself  to  that  branch.  It 
would  be  an  endless  task  to  name  the  failures,  there- 
fore one  instance  may  suffice  for  many.  Tibbits  and 
Gordon,  a  short  time  before  the  crisis,  could  have 
realized  $60,000  beyond  paying  every  cent;  and  when 
the  storm  burst,  so  hopeless  was  every  effort,  they 
could  not  pay  fifty  cents  on  the  dollar.  Gov.  Far- 
well's  ruin  called  forth  much  sympathy.  He  had 
built  up  the  community,  spending  his  own  money  in 
a  liberal  spirit  and  inducing  others  to  invest.  Men 
thrown  out  of  their  customary  labor  could  remember 
the  generous  employer  who  had  given  work  to  hun- 
dreds. A  policy  less  open  handed  might  have  en- 
abled him  to  tide  over  the  panic,  but  the  village 
would  have  been  much  slower  in  becoming  a  city. 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  135 

The  crisis  destroyed  the  value  of  real  estate,  closed  up 
stores,  factories,  workshops  and  offices,  threw  men 
out  of  their  gainful  avocations,  and  brought  gaunt 
famine  near  to  many  doors  which  had  been  fondly 
thought  secure  from  its  dread  approach. 

After  the  crisis,  some  mills  were  resumed,  and  in 
1866,  the  manufactories  of  the  city  included  the  flour- 
ing mill  built  by  the  ex-governor,  owned  by  Mr. 
Briggs;  a  woolen  factory,  the  steam  flouring  mill  of 
Maiming  and  Merrill,  and  the  iron  foundry  com- 
menced by  E.  ~VV.  Skinner  in  1851,  on  the  corner  of 
State  and  Gorham  streets,  sold  in  succession  to  W.  S. 
Huntington  in  1859,  and  to  Andrews  &  Co.  in  1864. 
The  foundry  of  E.  W.  Skinner  &  Co.  occupied  the 
building  raised  by  Gorham  for  a  steam  saw  mill. 
The  mill  changed  hands,  and  was  made  into  a  foundry 
by  I.  E.  Brown.  P.  H.  Turner  bought  the  property 
in  1859,  when  the  country  was  recovering  from  the 
crash,  and  Mr.  Skinner  became  the  proprietor,  adding 
to  his  firm  O.  S.  Willey  and  S.  D.  Hastings.  That 
establishment,-  in  lS65-'6,  employed  fifty  men,  be- 
sides canvassers  all  over  the  northwest.  Beginning 
with  one  sorghum  mill  in  1861,  it  extended  its  opera 
tions  to  eleven  in  1862,  one  hundred  in  the  following 
year,  and  in  1865  more  than  five  hundred.  The  Cap 
ital  Iron  Works,  owned  by  J.  E.  Baker  and  operated 
by  Mr.  Stillman,  had  been  entered  upon  in  1865 
There  were,  besides,  two  planing  mills,  three  cabinet 
ware  manufactories,  and  great  hopes  that  the  peat 
beds  would  become  factors  of  immense  prosperity. 


186  HISTORY   OF   MADISON. 

The  Agricultural  Society,  a  young  institution  when 
Mr.  Seymour  published  his  directory,  had  grown 
strong,  and  the  old  rooms  were  to  be  given  up  for  the 
better  location  in  the  capitol.  The  patriotism  of  the 
society  in  vacating  its  grounds  for  military  use  ren- 
dered it  impossible  to  hold  exhibitions  from  1S61  to 
1863;  but  in  September,  1864,  Camp  Randall  having 
well  nigh  completed  its  military  avocation,  was  avail- 
able for  the  arts  of  peace.  The  value  of  the  institu- 
tion is  beyond  praise.  It  has  stimulated  agricul- 
tural and  inventive  industry  and  skill,  largely  to  the 
advantage  of  our  city  and  state.  Abraham  Lincoln, 
then  not  dreaming  of  the  presidency,  honored  the 
society  on  one  occasion  by  delivering  the  annual  ad- 
dress. Other  orators,  well  worthy  of  being  particu- 
larized, are  omitted  for  want  of  space. 

The  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane  was  commenced 
under  an  act  passed  by  the  legislature  when  Gov. 
Barstow  was  in  office,  in  1854,  but  in  consequence  of 
a  misunderstanding,  the  contractor,  Andrew  Proudlit, 
did  not  proceed.  There  was  no  blame  attaching  to 
him,  and  he  recovered  damages.  Two  years  later  the 
scheme  was  revived,  but  the  original  name  of  Lunatic 
Asylum  was  changed  to  the  title  now  in  use.  The 
contractor,  in  1857,  was  compelled  to  abandon  the 
enterprise,  but  the  building  was  made  ready  in  1860. 
Col.  S.  V.  Shipman  was  the  architect;  additions  were 
made  in  1861.  Dr.  Clement  was  medical  superinten- 
dent in  1860,  and  Dr.  Favill  assistant.  In  1864,  Dr. 
Yan  Norstrand  became  medical  superintendent,  and 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  137 

Dr.  Sawyer  assistant.  There  was  no  change  in  the 
office  of  matron,  which  continues  to  be  filled  by  Mrs. 
M.  C.  Halliday. 

The  fact  that  the  capitol  graces  Madison  is  due  to 
the  business  tact  of  the  citizens.  The  grant  of  $50,000 
in  city  bonds  has  been  mentioned.  The  east  wing 
was  undertaken  in  1857,  and  the  legislature  occupied 
the  building  in  1859.  The  west  wing  was  com- 
menced in  1861,  amid  the  discouragements  and 
financial  pressure  incident  to  civil  war,  and  that  wing 
was  finished  in  1S63.  The  north  wing,  the  south 
wing,  and  the  rotunda  followed  in  the  order  named, 
the  dome  being  completed  before  the  commencement 
of  this  decade.  The  material  is  not  so  good  as  the 
beauty  of  the  structure  demanded,  but  the  commis- 
sioners did  the  best  possible  under  the  circumstances. 
The  internal  finish  is  admirable,  and  the  conveniences 
afforded  for  the  several  departments  are  all  that  can 
be  desired.  Few  persons  visit  Madison  without  mount- 
ing the  wide  iron  stairs  that  lead  from  the  upper  floor 
to  the  second,  in  which  are  found  the  chambers  of  the 
senate  and  assembly,  the  supreme  court,  the  state 
library,  and  the  still  more  attractive  collections  of  the 
state  historical  society. 

The  State  Bank,  on  Pinckney  st.,  between  Tenney's 
and  Bruen's  blocks,  was  opened  in  January,  1853,  with 
a  capital  of  $50,000,  under  the  direction  of  President 
Samuel  Marshall  and  Cashier  J.  A.  Ellis.  The  Bank 
of  the  West  began  on  the  second  floor  of  Bruen's 
Block,  in  March,  1854,  with  a  capital  of   $100,000, 


138  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

i 

and  the  officers  were  Samuel  A.  Lowe,  President,  and 
Wm.  L.  Hinsdale,  Cashier.  The  Dane  County  Bank, 
in  the  same  block,  began  its  operations  in  October, 
with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  the  officers  being  Levi  B. 
Vilas,  President,  Leonard  J.  Parwell,  Yice  President, 
and  N.  B.  Yan  Slyke,  Cashier.  There  was,  in  addi- 
tion, in  1855,  a  bank  of  discount  and  brokerage  on 
Morris  street,  of  which  J.  M.  Dickinson  was  man- 
ager and  owner.  Catlin,  Williamson  &  Barwise  ad- 
vertised as  bankers  and  land  agents,  dating  their 
establishment  from  1836,  just  a  little  before  Madison 
came  into  existence.  The  Merchants  Bank  of  Madi- 
son was  organized  in  1856,  and  commenced  business 
in  July.  A.  A.  Bliss,  of  Ohio,  and  C.  T.  Flowers 
were  president  and  cashier.  The  Wisconsin  Bank  of 
Madison,  with  M.  D.  Miller,  President,  and  Noah 
Lee,  Cashier,  was  also  organized  in  1856.  The  Bank 
of  Madison  began  in  April,  1860,  with  a  capital  of 
$25,000.  The  president  was  Simeon  Mills,  and  the 
cashier,  J.  L.  Hill.  The  First  National  started  into 
vigorous  existence  in  December,  1863.  The  board  of 
directors  consisted  of  L.  B.  Vilas,  S.  D.  Hastings,  N. 
B.  Van  Slyke,  George  A.  Mason  and  Timothy  Brown. 
The  directory  of  1866  only  showed  four  banks  in  op- 
eration: The  Farmers'  Bank,  the  First  National,  the 
Madison,  and  the  State  Bank.  Many  of  the  leaders 
had  entered  into  new  combinations;  some  had  disap- 
peared altogether;  N.  B.  Van  Slyke  had  become  pres- 
ident of  the  First  National.  The  State  Bank  retained 
its  first  president,  but  procured  a  new  cashier,  L.  S. 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  339 

Hanks,  who  still  remains.  The  Farmers'  Bank  had 
offices  next  door  west  of  the  State  Bank,  and  J.  11. 
Slavan  was  its  cashier.  Brainard's  city  directory  foi- 
ls 75  showed  a  total  of  five  banks,  comprising  in  addi- 
tion to  two  of  the  four  last  named,  the  German  Bank, 
on  King  street,  near  Main,  the  Bark  Savings  Bank, 
and  the  State  Savings  Institution,  the  last  of  which 
has  since  ended  in  disaster.  The  Bank  of  Madison 
failed  for  a  considerable  amount.  The  loss  fell  heav- 
ily upon  all  classes  because  of  the  faith  reposed  in  the 
financial  strength  of  some  few  names.  The  banks 
now  operating  in  the  city  are,  The  First  National, 
with  a  capital  of  $150,000;  the  president,  N.  B.  Yan 
Slyke,  deserves  mention  for  the  care  with  which  he 
has  presided  over  the  finances  of  the  State  University; 
The  State  Bank,  with  President  Marshall  and  Cashier 
L.  S.  Hanks;  The  German  Bank  of  J.  J.  Suhr,  on 
King  street,  and  The  Park  Savings  Bank,  which  com- 
menced in  November,  1871,  and  has  transacted  a  busi- 
ness quite  as  large  as  circumstances  warranted  the 
proprietary  in  anticipating.  Capital,  $50,000.  The 
president  is  Dr.  J.  B.  Bowen,  and  the  cashier,  Dr.  Jas. 
E.  Baker,  the  offices  being  at  the  corner  of  Washing- 
ton avenue  and  Pinckney  street,  in  a  handsome  block, 
the  property  of  Dr.  Baker. 

The  time  in  which  banks  were  dreaded  by  the  poorer 
class  and  distrusted  by  the  leaders  of  public  opinion 
has,  we  may  hope,  passed  for  ever.  Failures  are  inev- 
itable; misfortune  will  overtake  individuals;  but  the 
banker  per  se  is  one  of  the  most  useful  citizens.     He 


140  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

is  the  medium  by  which  wealth,  which  would  other- 
wise be  wastefully  hoarded,  can  be  brought  from  its 
hiding  places  to  multiply  the  riches  of  a  nation. 

The  post-office,  once  a  small  log  house,  is  now  one 
of  our  handsomest  buildings.  The  United  States 
courts  are  held  in  the  same  elegant  structure,  on  the 
third  floor.  Business  keeps  pace  with  increased  ac- 
commodation. There  are  2,400  boxes  in  the  post-office. 
The  offices  of  the  United  States  marshal;  the  asses- 
sor and  collector  of  internal  revenue;  the  pension 
agent;  as  well  as  those  of  the  clerks  of  courts,  the 
judges  and  the  postmaster,  are  conveniently  grouped 
under  one  roof.  The  structure  forms  one  of  our  il- 
lustrations. Postmaster  E.  AV.  Keyes  has  marked 
individuality.  For  eight  years  he  has  served  as 
chairman  of  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee 
with  such  good  fortune,  that,  when  recently  assailed, 
his  vindication  was  welcomed  by  men  of  every  class. 
Upon  his  return  from  Washington,  his  welcome  home 
was  an  ovation  in  which  judges  and  others,  dissevered 
from  him  in  political  life,  bore  a  conspicuous  share. 
Mr.  Keyes  studied  law  under  George  B.  Smith,  and 
is  a  member  of  one  of  our  most  respected  legal  firms. 
His  father  was  a  pioneer  of  note  in  the  early  days  of 
Wisconsin.  Madison  must  feel  pleased  that  the  ex- 
ecutive ability  of  the  party  which  has  so  long  con- 
trolled the  state  has,  from  the  beginning,  been  vested 
in  a  prominent  Madisonian. 

The  factories  and  business  houses  can  only  be  briefly 
mentioned.      Breckheimer,    Fauerbach,  Eodermund, 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  143 

Hausmann  and  Hess  are  the  brewers;  there  are  five 
carriage  and  wagon  building  firms;  two  bookbind- 
eries;  four  book  and  job  printers,  English,  and  one 
German;  seven  carpenters  and  builders;  one  distiller 
and  rectifier;  thirteen  dry  goods  houses;  two  express 
agencies;  five  furniture  warehouses  and  factories;  two 
founders  and  three  machinists;  three  grain  dealers; 
thirty-three  grocers;  six  dealers  in  hardware;  twen- 
ty-six hotels,  including  the  Park,  the  Yilas,  the  Cap- 
itol and  the  Kasdall,  which  are  the  principal  in  the 
order  in  which  they  are  named ;  the  Madison  Mutual 
and  the  Hekla  are  home  insurance  companies,  and 
there  are  many  agencies;  there  are  four  livery  stables 
well  appointed;  manufacturers  of  and  dealers  in  to- 
bacco are  six  in  number;  there  are  fifteen  merchant 
tailors;  two  omnibus  lines;  three  daily  papers,  five 
weekly,  one  tri-weekly,  one  semi-monthly,  and  four 
monthly;  we  have  one  plow  manufactory;  two  mak- 
ers of  pumps  and  windmills ;  one  reaper  factory ;  two 
sash,  door  and  blind  factories;  two  restaurants  and 
thirty-one  saloons;  a  soap  and  candle  factory;  a  ste- 
reotype foundry;  a  soda  water  factory,  and  the  Madi- 
son Woolen  Mills.  We  have  in  all  450  business 
houses.  The  city  has  not  reached  the  limits  of  its 
prosperity.  Our  agricultural  resources  are  boundless, 
and  the  water  powers  have  not  been  utilized  to  more 
than  a  tithe  of  their  capacity.  One  man,  whose  name 
carries  weight,  says  that  we  must  not  look  to  manu- 
factures for  a  success,  which  will  come  much  more 
surely  and  speedily  to  Madison  as  a  watering  place, 


m 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 


"With  proper  deference,  we  look  to  both  sources  for  a 
great  prosperity  in  the  future.  The  beauty  of  Madi- 
son is  unsurpassed,  but  she  must  also  grow  rich  by 
her  factories. 

The  railroads  in  operation  are,  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee and  St.  Paul,  and  the  Chicago  and  North- 
western. The  traffic  is  extensive.  The  demand  for 
hotel  accommodation  is  so  large  that  years  since  that 
fact  was  advanced  as  a  reason  why  the  government 
should  be  located  elsewhere.  Several  prominent  citi- 
zens procured  the  incorporation  of  a  company  to 
erect  and  furnish  the  elegant  building  which  is  now 
our  leading  hotel.  The  enterprise  was  completed  in 
1871,  being  opened  in  August.  The  Park  Hotel  ar- 
rangements for  the  comfort  of  visitors  have  not  been 
surpassed  in  the  west,  and  for  the  number  and  varie- 
ty of  beautiful  views  from  every  window,  the  whole 
world  hardly  contains  its  superior.  The  first  lessee, 
Mark  II.  Irish,  commenced  his  tenancy  in  August, 
1871,  ending  in  the  corresponding  month  of  this 
year.  He  has  been  succeeded  by  Mr.  A.  II.  "West. 
The  extensive  frontage  on  Main  street  is  ninety-five 
and  on  Carroll  street  one  hundred  and  sixteen  feet. 
The  building  consists  of  four  stories  above  the  base- 
ment, and  is  seventy  feet  high,  built  of  Milwaukee 
pressed  brick,  containing  one  hundred  and  eighteen 
sleeping  rooms,  twelve  private  parlors,  one  reception 
room  for  ladies  only  and  one  for  ladies  and  gentle- 
men, a  general  dining  room  and  a  ladies  ordinary, 
general  and  private  offices,  bathrooms  and  suites  of 


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HISTORY   OF    MADISON.  145 

apartments  with  bathrooms  attached.  It  is  no  dis- 
paragement to  the  other  hotels  in  the  city  to  say  that 
the  Park  is  the  best.  Capital,  sufficient  for  such  a 
building,  could  only  be  obtained  by  cooperative  effort, 
and  the  support  afforded  from  the  beginning  has 
been  quite  satisfactory.  Mr;  D.  K.  Tenney  says, 
very  wisely,  as  to  the  charms  of  this  locality: 
"  Madison  and  its  surroundings  are  the  handsomest 
on  the  face  of  God's  green  earth.  This  is  our  capi- 
tal and  should  be  turned  to  profitable  account.  JSTo 
other  place  in  the  west  possesses  it.  For  all  the  pur- 
poses of  pleasure  seekers,  for  rest  and  recreation,  for 
quiet,  beauty  and  delight,  for  sporting  and  fishing, 
for  sailing  and  swimming,  for  the  intoxication  and 
relief  of  all  the  higher  senses,  Madison  has  no  equal; 
none  to  approach  her  west  of  the  sea  side.  Madison, 
says  a  writer,  '  rises  between  her  beautiful  lakes,  like 
a  gem  pillowed  on  the  bosom  of  a  queen.'  But 
thousands  who  ought  to  know  our  attractions  are  ig- 
norant of  them.  Twenty  years  ago,  Madison  was 
written  up,  and  people  were  acquainted  with  its 
charms  but  could  not  get  here.  A  dozen  fresh  crops 
of  tourists  have  sprung  up  since  who  have  never 
heard  of  us;  a  new  crop  is  on  the  road  every  year. 
Thousands  would  come  to  us  for  recreation,  and 
spend  their  money  here  to  the  reviving  of  every  chan- 
nel of  trade  and  prosperity." 
10 


1-iG  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 


CHAPTER    X. 

SCHOOLS,    LITERATURE    AND    ART. 

Those  who  came  to  build  the  capitol  and  make 
homes  in  its  vicinity  were  mainly  from  eastern  states 
where  they  had  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  school 
training.  Many  had  taught  school,  and  it  was  a  pri- 
vation to  he  removed  from  books  and  other  intellect- 
ual delights.  Schools  for  the  young  were  provided  in 
due  time,  but  the  first  want  was  an  association  for 
adult  culture.  Whist,  euchre  and  "  old  sledge,"  were 
diligently  pursued  by  skillful  amatuers,  who  straddled 
a  fallen  tree  all  Sunday,  engaged  in  that  absorbing  oc- 
cupation; but  the  pasteboard  ministers  of  pleasure 
would  not  supply  all  demands.  The  pioneers  estab- 
lished a  debating  society  with  stated  meetings,  chosen 
subjects  formally  announced,  and  a  regular  organiza- 
tion, that  afforded  better  employment  for  leisure.  The 
log  shanty  sleeping  room  in  the  park,  already  named, 
thirty  feet  by  twenty,  wTas  the  hall  in  which  the  week- 
ly tournaments  of  wit  and  wisdom  were  provided. 
The  club  house  athenaeum  was  a  popular  rallying 
place,  and  few  lyceum  courses  have  proved  more  inter- 
esting. There  were  no  attractions  elsewhere  to  mil- 
itate  against  the  popularity  of  the  movement.  The 
summer  of  1837  saw  the  debates  in  full  swing,  and 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON. 


147 


they  continued  until  November,  when  all  the  work- 
men except  Darwin  Clark  were  paid  off.  During 
the  winter  there  were  no  meetings,  because  the  de- 
baters and  audience  had  cone  to  Milwaukee,  and  the 
understandings  of  the  minority  were  exercised  in  a 
dancing  academy,  the  members  of  which  celebrated 
Madison's  first  New  Year,  with  two  days  devotion  to 
Terpsichore.  The  zeal  of  the  devotees  may  be  gathered 
from  the  fact,  that  on  the  second  day,  shoes  were  dis 
pensed  with.  Mr.  Turveydrop  would  perhaps  have 
found  fault  with  such  freedom  of  deportment. 

There  was  a  renewal  of  the  debating  society  in  the 
spring  of  1838,  and  many  new  members  joined. 
"Work  did  not  absolutely  cease  the  next  winter,  and 
the  meetings  continued.  When  the  legislature  held 
its  first  session  in  the  village,  home  talent  in  the  log 
shanty  was  pitted  against  imported  eloquence,  in  the 
frozen  capitol,  and  the  more  dignified  assemblages 
were  not  always  the  winners.  Sheriff  Childs  stirred 
up  Morrison's  pigs  in  the  basement  of  the  capitol,  to 
drown  the  voices  of  some  of  his  associates,  but  in  the 
little  athenseum,  there  was  choicer  music,  as  well  as 
more  courtesy.  The  leaders  in  literary  debate  were  not 
called  on  to  compete  with  vivacious  porkers.  There 
was  an  idle  time  in  the  summer  of  '39,  work  was 
scarce,  and  the  weekly  meetings  tended  to  become  per- 
manent clubs,  for  retailing  stories.  Some  of  the  mas- 
ter spirits  of  the  "  Thousand  and  one  "  were  on  hand. 
One  of  the  latest  efforts  under  the  old  auspices  was 
George  Stoner's  interesting  lecture  on  phrenology,  il- 


118  HISTOEY   OF   MADISON. 

lustrated  by  phenomena.  The  lecture  was  published. 
The  lecturer  may  again  be  heard  from.  His  younger 
brother,  James  Madison  Stoner,  was  the  first  white 
boy  born  in  the  village.  The  Madison  Institute  was 
an  outgrowth  of  the  minds  that  originated  the  debat- 
ing society,  an  intellectual  successor.  Incorporated 
in  1853,  its  rooms  were  in  Bruen's  block,  now 
Brown's;  and  the  leading  paj:>ers  and  magazines  with 
some  few  books  were  procured  for  members  and  visi- 
tors. The  winter  of  '51-5,  was  signalized  by  a  course 
of  lectures  in  which  Horace  Greeley,  James  P.  Lowell, 
Bayard  Taylor,  Parke  Godwin  and  John  G.  Saxe  ap- 
peared. The  library  had  then  one  hundred  volumes, 
and  other  collections  made  up  a  total  of  about  13,000 
in  the  hands  of  the  state,  the  executive,  the  univers- 
ity, the  state  superintendent,  the  historical  society, 
the  agricultural  society,  the  natural  history  associ- 
ation, the  district  school,  and  Mr.  Draper,  the  inval- 
uable collector  and  corresponding  secretary  of  the 
historical  society.  The  library  of  the  Institute  has 
largely  increased,  and  is  now  located  in  the  city  hall, 
where  it  is  open  every  afternoon,  and  on  Saturday 
evenings.  Some  years  have  elapsed  since  the  last 
course  of  lectures  was  undertaken  by  the  society,  and 
it  is  time  to  fix  a  date  for  resumption. 

The  first  schools  have  been  named  elsewhere.  Miss 
Pierce  taught  the  girls  in  a  building  near  the  site  of 
Dean's  Block  in  1840.  There  were  then  only  thirteen 
pupils  in  the  village.  Mr.  Searle  opened  his  school 
for  boys  in  1839,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  William- 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 


149 


son.  David  Brigham,  <Tas.  Morrison  and  Burk  Fair- 
child,  as  school  commissioners  in  December,  1841,  set 
off  school  district  No.  1,  which  was  subsequently  en- 
larged, including  a  wide  area  besides  the  village  of 
Madison.  In  the  next  year,  Mrs.  Gay  opened  a  select 
school  for  young  ladies.  Two  years  later,  the  public 
schools  were  so  crowded  that  tuition  was .  kept  up  all 
the  year  to  meet  the  demand.  Four  months  had  been 
the  maximum.  David  H.  Wright  was  the  first  teacher 
to  carry  out  the  extended  term.  The  school  room  had 
a  kind  of  shelf,  called  a  gallery,  on  which  the  smaller 
pupils  were  placed  when  the  more  advanced  scholars 
required  the  floor,  and  ventilation,  on  any  principle, 
was  neglected  as  an  extravagance.  Miss  Smedley 
taught  during  1845,  and  a  larger  building  was  found 
indispensable.  The  "  Little  Brick,"  school  house  on 
Butler  street  was  a  palatial  structure  in  its  day,  but 
that  also  became  too  small.     Jerome  R.  Brie-ham  and 

o 

Royal  Buck  taught  there  in  succession  for  three  years. 
Madison  Academy  had  been  incorporated,  the  village 
made  a  school  district,  and  soon  afterwards  the  pre- 
paratory department  of  the  state  university  was  opened 
by  Prof.  Sterling.  The  first  graded  school  dates  from 
1850,  with  Jas.  L.  Enos,  principal,  at  a  salary  of  $30 
per  month,  and  Mrs.  Church  had  control  of  the 
primary.  Damon  Y.  Kilgore,  superintendent,  urged 
an  increase  and  improvement  of  school  accommoda- 
tion in  1855.  There  were  1,600  persons  of  school  age 
in  the  district,  less  than  half  of  whom  were  attending 
school.     Three  grades  were  established  by  the  board, 


150  HISTORY    OF'  MADISON. 

and  there  has  been  no  material  change  since.  The 
school  board  and  trustees  could  not  agree  as  to  an 
authorized  outlay  of  $10,000,  and  plans  for  new 
schools  languished;  but  two  years  afterwards,  Mr. 
Kilgore  reported  eleven  schools  employing  fifteen 
teachers,  the  number  eligible  for  tuition  being  nearly 
two  thousand.  School  houses  in  the  First  and  Third 
wards  were  finished  and  others  sanctioned,  but  the 
money  difficulty  stood  in  the  way.  High  school  was 
taught  in  the  old  Congregational  church,  employing 
eight  teachers  for  133  pupils.  That  institution  was  in 
better  quarters  in  1860,  but  was  then  discontinued  for 
want  of  funds,  and  for  the  same  reason  the  summer 
term  of  the  ward  schools  was  abandoned.  Miss 
Cones  procured  the  use  of  the  building  and  furniture 
from  the  board,  and,  at  her  own  risk  for  a  time,  con- 
ducted a  high  school  for  young  ladies.  When  Prof. 
C.  II.  Allen  asked  the  city  to  provide  better  school 
training  in  1863,  there  were  nearly  2,000  of  school 
age  in  the  district  beyond  the  number  in  average 
ittendance.  High  school  was  reopened  with  about 
one-third  of  its  former  total,  and  soon  afterwards  the 
Fourth  ward  school  house  was  commenced.  State 
Supt.  McMynn  pronounced  that  building  "  the  best 
in  the  state,"  and  the  Second  ward  was  supplied  with 
a  like  structure  on  the  same  plan.  The  school  house 
in  the  university  addition  was  finished  in  1870. 
Three  years  later  the  high  school  on  Wisconsin 
avenue  was  erected  on  the  old  site,  and  is  much 
praised;  but  modern  science  suggests  the  desirability 


j&BOSOM    eiTV    MDGM    SCHOOL. 


HISTOKY   OF   MADISON.  153 

of  more  floor  space  and  less  stair  climbing  for  all 
pupils,  but  more  especially  for  girls,  as  more  im- 
portant than  architectural  beauty.  Widely  extended 
buildings  of  only  one  story,  would  not  be  so  orna- 
mental as  the  average  of  our  school,  buildings,  but 
they  would  be  easier  warmed  and  ventilated,  and  the 
results,  in  a  physiological  sense,  would  far  outweigh 
every  other  consideration,  among  the  best  informed. 

The  High  School  is  at  present  under  the  direction 
of  Professor  Shaw,  whose  efficiency  as  Superintendent 
of  the  city  schools  is  a  matter  for  the  school  board  as 
well  as  our  citizens  to  be  specially  proud  of.  The 
denominational  schools  connected  with  the  churches 
of  St.  Raphaels,  St.  Regina  and  the  Holy  Redeemer, 
deserve  special  mention.  There  are  excellent  private 
schools,  whose  merits  can  only  be  glanced  at.  R.  F. 
George  is  the  principal  of  the  Commercial  School  on 
Wisconsin  Avenue  and  Johnson  Street,  and  the  North- 
western Business  College  in  Ellsworth's  block,  of 
which  Messrs.  Wilmot,  Demming  &  Boyd  are  propri- 
etors, are  schools  of  high  standing.  Add  to  these 
several  institutions  the  college  just  opened  by  the 
Norwegian  church  in  the  old  Farwell  residence,  and 
it  will  be  seen  that  the  sum  total  of  facility  for  tui- 
tion in  this  city  is  scarcely  excelled  by  any  other 
place  of  its  size  in  the  Union. 

The  Wisconsin  Academy  of  Sciences,  Arts  and  Let- 
ters was  originated  by  a  convention  in  the  state  agri- 
cultural rooms  in  February,  1870.  The  purposes 
aimed  at  are  explained  by  the  title,  and  the  spirit  in 


164:  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

which  the  work  has  been  prosecuted,  justifies  the  as- 
sumption that  "  the  foundations  may  be  laid  for  an 
institution  that  shall  be  of  practical  utility,  and  a  last- 
ing honor  to  the  state."  The  transactions  of  the  acad- 
emy  have  been  published  by  votes  of  the  legislature, 
and  among  the  many  valuable  papers  are  some  that 
would  do  honor  to  any  institution  of  the  kind;  but 
which  would  hardly  commend  themselves  to  the  di- 
rectors of  the  daily  press  as  popular  reading,  from  the 
recondite  matter  introduced.  Madison  has  given  a 
large  proportion  of  the  officers  of  the  academy  for  the 
current  year.  Professor  Davies  of  the  State  Univer- 
sity is  General  Secretary;  Prof.  S.  IT.  Carpenter, 
Yice  President  for  Department  of  Speculative  Philos- 
ophy; Dr.  J.  W.  Hoyt,  Yice  President  for  Depart- 
ment of  Fine  Arts;  Gen.  Geo.  P.  Delaplaine,  Treas- 
urer; C.  N".  Gregory,  A.  M.,  Librarian;  and  E.  T. 
Sweet,  M.  S.,  Director  of  Museum. 

The  State  University  has  added  largely  to  the  ag- 
gregate of  literary  culture,  for  which  our  city  stands 
preeminent.  It  is  our  purpose  to  name  some  of  the 
more  prominent  among  our  men  and  women  of  letters, 
briefly  noting  their  contributions,  and  it  is  due  to  the 
University  that  we  begin  with  a  sketch  of  its  accom- 
lished  president.  John  Bascom  was  born  in  Genoa, 
K.  Y.,  on  the  first  day  of  May,  1827,  as  we  learn  from 
"  Durfee's  Biographical  Annals  of  Williams  College." 
He  is  consequently  now  in  his  fiftieth  year.  Having 
fitted  for  college  at  Homer  Academy,  N.  Y.,  he  en- 
tered "  Williams  "  in  1845,  and  graduated  four  years 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON.  155 

later.  Severe  study,  and  the  necessity  to  teacli  while 
pursuing  his  course  as  a  student,  weakened  his  visual 
organs,  as  in  1853  he  partially  lost  the  use  of  his  eyes 
so  that  he  was  dependent  on  others  for  his  reading, 
and  for  five  years  sight  was  not  fully  restored.  Stead- 
fastly pursuing  his  studies,  Mr.  Bascom  graduated  at 
Andover  Theological  Seminary  in  1855,  and  was 
called  to  the  professorship  of  rhetoric  in  Williams 
College.  In  the  year  1858,  he  published  a  work  on 
"  Political  Economy,"  to  which  his  mind  had  been 
specially  directed,  while  serving  as  tutor  at  Williams 
College  in  1852-3.  Four  years  later  his  second  book 
appeared,  a  treatise  on  "^Esthetics,"  followed  in  1865 
by  a  volume  on  "Rhetoric,"  and  in  1869  by  "Psy- 
chology," a  work  treating  one  of  the  most  engrossing 
subjects  of  modern  thought.  "  Science,  Philosophy 
and  Religion"  in  1871,  the  "  Philosophy  of  English 
Literature "  in  1871,  and  the  *'  Philosophy  of  Re- 
ligion" in  1876,  may  be  taken  as  evidences  that  the 
lesson  of  five  years  in  semi-darkness  has  not  been 
construed  into  an  excuse  for  taking  things  easilv. 
The  university  duties  devolving  upon  President  Bas- 
com are  onerous,  but  they  do  not  exhaust  his  mental 
force,  and  the  superfluous  energy  of  the  scholar  finds 
expression  in  additions  to  our  literature,  such  as  will 
cause  the  name  of  the  writer  to  be  remembered  in 
future  years.  President  Bascom  is  a  diligent  con- 
tributor to  some  of  our  leading  quarterlies. 

Prof.  R.  B.  Anderson  has  long  been  a  successful 
author.     His  graphic  work,  amplified  from  a  lecture, 


156  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

"America  not  discovered  by  Columbus,"  won  recog- 
nition on  both  sides  of  tlie  Atlantic.  It  is  now  out  of 
print,  but  a  new  edition  is  demanded,  and  may  be 
looked  for  shortly.  "  Norse  Mythology  "  has  gone 
through  its  second  edition,  and  a  third  is  in  the  press. 
"  Viking  Tales  of  the  North  "  is  just  out,  and  the  de- 
mand attests  the  author's  reputation.  Besides  these 
works,  by  which  Mr.  Anderson  is  best  known  in  this 
country,  he  has  produced  many  pamphlets  and  larger 
works  in  the  Norwegian  tongue,  including  "Jule- 
gave,"  or  "  Yule  Gift,"  and  "  Den  Norske  Maal-sag," 
or  "The  Norse  Language-Question."  His  transla- 
tion from  the  Swedish  of  the  "  Handbook  for  Char- 
coal Burners,"  a  combination  of  prize  essays  on  the 
subject,  has  attracted  much  attention.  Mr.  Anderson 
is  professor  of  the  Scandinavian  languages,  and  libra- 
rian of  the  State  University,  in  which  capacity  lie  has 
twice  visited  Europe,  and  will  repeat  the  tour  shortly, 
as  a  member  of  the  Congres  des  Americanistes,  which 
will  assemble  in  the  Duchy  of  Luxembourg.  The 
professor  is  a  lecturer  of  considerable  merit,  hon- 
orary member  of  the  Iceland  Literary  Society,  partici- 
pating in  all  the  publications  of  that  association,  Scan- 
dinavian editor  of  McClintock  &  Strong's  Cyclopedia, 
and  of  Kiddle  &  Scheni's  Educational  Cyclopedia; 
and  has  been  appointed  to  deliver  a  course  of  lee 
tures  on  Norse  literature,  at  the  Peabody  Institute, 
Baltimore,  in  December,  1877.  Circumstances  have 
brought  the  professor  in  contact  with  many  of 
the    world's    most    renowned    scholars    and     poets, 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  157 

such  as  Max  Miiller  and  Whitney,  Bjornson  and  Long- 
fellow, and  his  collection  of  autographs  is  most  inter- 
esting. 

Prof.  W.  F.  Allen  was  associated  with  T.  P.  Allen 
in  producing  the  "  Handbook  of  Classical  Geography," 
in  1862,  and  with  Chas.  P.  Ware  and  Lucy  McK.  Gar- 
rison in  a  volume  of  "  Slave  Songs,"  in  1867.  In 
1870,  Mr.  Allen  produced  an  "  Introduction  to  Latin 
Composition."  Joined  with  Jos.  H.  Allen,  in  1868 
and  1869,  he  wrote  a  "  Manual  of  Latin  Grammar," 
"  Latin  Lessons  "  and  a  "  Latin  Reader,"  and  during 
the  current  decade,  associated  with  Jos.  H.  Allen  and 
Jas.  B.  Greenough,  has  added  to  our  literature  six 
works  on  Cicero's  Select  Orations,  De  Senectute,  Sal- 
lust's  Catiline,  Virgil,  Ovid  and  Caesar.  Prof.  Allen 
ranks  among  the  most  prominent  Latin  scholars  in 
America,  and  is  a  constant  contributor  to  The  Nation, 
North  American  Review,  and  other  such  publications. 

Prof.  S.  H.  Carpenter  was  born  at  Little  Falls,  Her- 
kimer County,  1ST.  Y.,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
graduated  in  Rochester  University,  receiving  from 
that  institution  in  1855  and  1871,  the  degrees  of  A. 
M.  and  LL.  D.  The  professor  commenced  his  career 
in  our  State  University  as  a  tutor  in  1852,  and  has 
been  identified  with  the  interests  of  education  ever 
since.  His  publications  can  only  be  glanced  at,  but 
their  titles  are  descriptive :  "  Education  a  Mental 
Possession,"  "The  Moral  Element  in  Education," 
"  Education  a  Necessity  in  a  Free  Government,"  "  The 
Evidences  of  Christianity,"  "  University  Education," 


158  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

"The  Drama,"  "An  Address  to  the  State  Teachers' 
Association,"  "  The  Relations  of  Skepticism  to  Schol- 
arship," "  Conflict  between  the  Old  and  the  New  Ed- 
ucation," "Metaphysical  Basis  of  Science,"  "Relation 
of  Educational  Institutions,"  "  Philosophy  of  Evolu- 
tion," "  Industrial  Education,"  "  The  Educational 
Problem,"  "Historical  Sketch  of  the  University," 
"  Our  National  Growth,"  and  still  unpublished  an 
address  on  "  The  Duty  and  Difficulty  of  Independent 
Thinking."  Prof.  Carpenter's  "  English  of  the  Four- 
teenth Century,"  and  "  Introduction  to  the  Study  of 
Anglo  Saxon,"  cannot  fail  to  li^e  as  standard  works; 
and  he  has  translated  from  the  French  of  Emile  de  La- 
veleye,  "The  Future  of  Catholic  Nations"  and  "Po- 
litical Economy  and  Socialism,"  besides  contributing 
largely  to  periodicals  of  the  highest  type. 

Dr.  James  Davie  Butler,  LL.  D.,  was  born  in  Rut- 
land, Yt.,  and  graduated  at  Middlebury  College  at 
twenty-one.  Having  studied  theology  in  Yale  and 
Andover,  he  next  became  a  traveler  in  Europe,  Asia 
and  Africa,  extending  his  researches  into  Polynesia 
by  visiting  the  Sandwich  Islands.  Returning  to  his 
alma  mater,  he  became  a  tutor  in  Middlebury  College, 
and,  in  succession,  professor  in  Norwich  University, 
Wabash  College,  and  in  our  University,  in  all,  about 
eighteen  years.  He  officiated  as  a  Congregational  pas- 
tor at  Wells  River,  Yt.,  Peabody,  Mass.,  and  at  Cincin- 
nati, O.  He  has  published  "  Armsmear,"  a  memorial 
of  Col.  Colt;  "  Letters  From  Abroad,"  which  appeared 
in  Boston,  New  York,  Cincinnati,  Chicago  and  Mad- 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  159 

ison,  and  valuable  papers  in  Kitto's  Cyclopedia  Bihli- 
otheca  Sacra,  Quarterly  Register,  and  in  connection 
with  the  American  Institute  and  our  State  Historical 
Society.  The  professor  is  well  known  as  a  lecturer, 
and  his  occasional  sermons  are  always  listened  to  with 
profound  interest. 

Lyman  C.  Draper,  A.  M.,  LL.  D.,  has  rather  aimed 
at  preparing  material  for  future  historians,  than  at 
becoming  a  writer  of  books;  but  he  has  won  for  him- 
self the  title  of  "  The  Western  Plutarch."  His  atten- 
tion was  earlv  directed  to  the  want  of  efficient  collec- 
tion,  which  prevented  masses  of  facts,  once  well  known, 
from  beino;  authenticated  for  historical  use,  and  much 

CD 

of  his  life  has  been  devoted  to  the  rectification  of  that 
class  of  errors.  Circumstances  have  aided  him^in 
some  degree  in  becoming  acquainted  with  notabilities, 
and  his  personal  reminiscences  of  La  Fayette,  De 
Witt  Clinton,  Gov.  Cass,  Chas.  Carroll,  Daniel  Boone, 
and  others  equally  celebrated  in  their  several  spheres, 
would  make  one  of  the  most  readable  volumes  of  the 
day.  His  collection  of  MSS.  is  certainly  the  most 
valuable  in  the  west,  and  in  the  hands  of  a  skillful 
writer,  might  be  wrought  into  works  of  engrossing 
interest  and  great  literary  value.  Mr.  Draper  has 
seen  service  in  the  field;  has  been  justice  of  the  peace 
in  Northern  Mississippi,  editor  of  a  newspaper,  farmer, 
and  since  his  removal  to  this  state,  has  been  identified 
with  the  State  Historical  Society,  as  we  have  else- 
where recorded.  As  state  superintendent  of  public 
instruction,   his   labors   deserve   honorable   mention. 


160  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

His  published  works  consist  of  pamphlets  and  school 
reports,  evincing  much  research,  the  seven  volumes  of 
collections  of  the  Historical  Society  with  valuable 
notes,  "  The  Helping  Hand,"  a  work  in  which  Mr. 
Croffut  assisted,  and  two  works  are  now  ready  for  the 
press;  one,  in  which  Mr.  Bntterfield  was  his  colaborer, 
entitled  "Border  Forays,"  and,  though  last,  not  least, 
"  The  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Independence,"  a 
book  full  of  careful  compilations  on  the  daring  asser- 
tion of  independence  enunciated  at  Mecklenburg,  N. 
C,  more  than  twelve  months  prior  to  the  time  from 
which  we  date  our  centennial. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Hoyt,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  LL.  D.,  is  already 
known  to  our  readers  as  editor  of  "  The  Wisconsin 
Farmer"  but  he  has  served  the  state  in  numerous 
other  capacities.  "Worthington,  Ohio,  was  his  place 
of  nativity,  and  in  that  state  he  was  Professor  of 
Chemistry  and  Medical  Jurisprudence  in  the  Cincin- 
nati College  of  Medicine,  as  also,  at  a  later  date,  Pro- 
fessor of  Chemistry  and  Natural  History  in  Antioch 
College.  The  doctor  was  Secretary  of  the  "Wisconsin 
State  Agricultural  Society:  was  founder  and  President 
of  the  Academy  of  Sciences,  Arts  and  Letters,  besides 
holding  many  other  appointments  of  honor  and  use- 
fulness, which  defy  enumeration.  His  services  to  the 
State  University  alone  would  require  more  space  than 
we  have  at  our  disposal  for  this  brief  notice.  His 
works  consist  of  thirteen  annual  reports  of  the  State 
Agricultural  Society,  and  other  reports  on  the  re- 
sources and  progress  of  "Wisconsiu;  on  the  London 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON.  161 

International  Exhibition;  on  the  Paris  Exposition 
Uni'versellej  on  the  Railroad  Commission;  as  chair- 
man of  the  National  University  Committee;  a  work 
on  "University  Progress;"  and  numerous  mono- 
graphs, industrial,  educational  and  scientific.  The 
doctor  has  a  well  stored  mind,  and  its  resources  are 
ever  at  his  fullest  command  for  the  work  of  the  hour 
and  the  age. 

Mr.  H.  A.  Tenney  has  figured  in  many  other  chap- 
ters of  our  history,  and  he  must  not  be  forgotten 
among  our  authors.  To  him  are  due  the  earliest 
sketches  extant  of  Dane  and  Pierce  counties,  and  in- 
numerable contributions  preserved  by  the  State  His- 
torical Societ}*.  He  has  been  a  Wisconsin  man  from 
a  very  early  date.  He  has  now  almost  ready  for  the 
press,  a  volume  on  "Early  Humor  in  Wisconsin," 
which  should  have  a  good  sale. 

D.  S.  Durrie,  whose  unobtrusive  labors  in  the 
State  Historical  Library  have  been  too  little  noticed, 
deserves  more  than  a  passing  mention.  He  has  long 
filled  the  position  of  Librarian.  His  works  consist 
of  the  "Bibliography  of  Wisconsin;"  "Early  Out- 
posts of  Wisconsin;"  "Bibliographic  Genealogy  of 
America;"  "The  Steele  Family;"  "Holt  Geneal- 
ogy. »  u  Utility  of  the  Study  of  Genealogy;  "  "  His- 
tory of  the  Four  Lake  Country;"  and  parts  of  the 
"History  of  Wisconsin;"  of  Iowa  and  Missouri. 
Mr.  Durrie  compiles  with  faithfulness,  and  has  a  con- 
science in  his  literary  labors. 

C.  W.  Butterfield  was  born  in  July,  1824,  and  has 
11 


162  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

prosecuted  Lis  literary  labors  with  much  good  for- 
tune. His  principal  works  are  the  "  History  of  Sen- 
eca County,"  Ohio;  "A  System  of  Grammatical  and 
Rhetorical  Punctuation;''  "Crawford's  Expedition 
against  Sandusky,  in  1782; ':  and  in  conjunction 
with  Mr.  Draper,  Mr.  Butterfield  has  produced  "Bor- 
der Forays."  A  new  edition  of  Crawford's  Expedi- 
tion may  be  expected  shortly.  His  "  Washington 
Crawford  Letters,"  have  just  appeared. 

Bev.  J.  B.  Pradt  has  long  been  a  resident  in  this 
state.  He  has  issued  ten  volumes  of  the  Wisconsin 
Journal  of  Education,  from  1860  to  1865,  as  editor 
and  publisher,  and  from  1871  to  the  present  time,  as 
co-editor  and  publisher.  Mr.  Pradt  has  also  assisted 
in  issuing  eight  annual  reports  of  the  Department  of 
Public  Instruction;  and  an  edition  of  the  Constitu- 
tions of  the  United  States  and  Wisconsin,  with  his- 
torical notes,  questions  and  glossary. 

Bev.  Ames  C.  Pennock  came  to  Wisconsin  in  1844, 
and  four  years  later,  joined  the  M.  E.  Conference, 
preaching  in  this  state  and  in  Minnesota  until  1862, 
when  in  consequence  of  impaired  health,  it  became 
necessary  to  abate  his  labors.  Mr.  Pennock  has  had 
experience  as  a  farmer,  merchant,  agent,  author, 
editor  and  newspaper  correspondent.  He  is  now  a 
publisher  of  books  as  well  as  a  writer.  His  mind 
revels  alike  in  poetry  and  prose,  and  those  who  have 
encountered  him  in  theological  controversy  will  long 
remember  the  event.  He  has  published  a  brief,  but 
very  exhaustive  work,  on  "  The  Fall  and  the  Rescue 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  163 

m 

of  Man;  "  also  recently  issued  "  The  Problem  of  Evil, 
or  Theory  and  Theology,"  and  has  written  a  volume 
of  poetry. 

Professor  JSTicodemus  has  now  ready  for  the  press  a 
translation  of  "Weisbach's  Engineer,"  a  work  of 
admitted  value,  which  cannot  fail  to  be  recognized  as 
a  standard  production.  The  translation  from  the 
Swedish,  by  Professor  Anderson,  of  Svedelius' 
"  Handbook  for  Charcoal  Burners,"  was  edited  by 
Mr.  Nicodemus,  who  contributed  copious  notes  from 
the  writings  of  acknowledged  authorities.  Many 
articles  in  the  published  proceedings  of  the  Academy 
of  Sciences,  Arts  and  Letters  are  due  to  his  industry, 
and  other  additions  to  our  current  literature  might 
be  given,  were  it  necessary  to  complete  the  catalogue. 

Prof.  Searing,  superintendent  of  public  instruction, 
was  one  of  the  faculty  of  Milton  College,  in  this  state, 
prior  to  his  election  to  the  office  now  worthily  filled 
by  him.  His  published  works  consist  of  an  address 
on  the  "  Character  of  Abraham  Lincoln,"  delivered 
shortly  after  the  assassination  of  the  martyred  presi- 
dent, and  a  school  edition  of  Virgil's  Eneid.  The 
great  success  of  the  book  last  named,  led  to  the  pre- 
paration of  an  edition  of  Homer's  Iliad,  which  was 
nearly  ready  for  publication  when  Mr.  Searing  was 
elected.  In  consequence  of  his  call  to  the  unsought 
honor,  the  book  has  not  yet  seen  the  light,  but  its  ap- 
pearance may  be  anticipated  shortly,  and  its  success 
looked  upon  as  assured,  so  great  and  well  applied  has 
been  the  labor,  and  so  exceptionally  elegant  will  be  the 


164  HISTOKY    OF   MADISON. 

illustrations.  Prof.  Searing  deserves  high  honor  for 
tlie  strenuous  personal  efforts  by  which  he  has  earned 
his  own  advancement  in  the  department  of  letters. 
His  official  services  have  been  properly  noticed  else- 
where. His  career  has  been  highly  meritorious,  and 
substantially  successful;  he  is  yet  only  on  the  thresh- 
hold  of  his  literary  eminence. 

Mr.  John  Y.  Smith,  who  wrote  a  history  of  Madi- 
son, in  brief,  for  one  of  the  earlier  Directories,  was  a 
writer  of  great  force,  and  fineness  of  intellect;  but 
want  of  space  precludes  a  becoming  notice  of  his 
merits. 

Col.  Slaughter  has  been  frequently  mentioned  in 
our  pages,  and  it  remains  only  to  say  that  as  a  writer, 
he  is  a  gentleman  of  high  repute.  He  is  now  engaged 
on  a  series  of  Wisconsin  Biographies,  which  will 
widely  extend  his  fame. 

Jas.  R.  Stuart  is  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  where 
his  forefathers  settled  in  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  hence  probably  his  adhesion  to  the  "  lost 
cause  "  for  which  he  fought.  His  scientific  training 
was  procured  in  Harvard,  his  first  instruction  in  art 
in  the  studio  of  Joseph  Ames  of  Boston.  After  some 
years  of  school  teaching  in  Savannah,  he  was  enabled 
to  prosecute  his  art  studies  in  the  academies  of  Mu- 
nich and  Carlsruhe.  Mr.  Stuart  came  to  Madison  in 
1872,  and  many  of  his  pictures  have  commanded  ad- 
miration. Judges  Dunn  and  Paine,  in  the  supreme 
court  rooms,  are  from  his  studio,  and  he  has  also 
painted    Gen.    Allen,    of    Oshkosh,    Judges   Miller, 


HISTORY   OF   MADISOST.  165 

Smith  and  Jonathan  E.  Arnold,  of  Milwaukee,  besides 
others  whose  names  could  not  be  given  without  ex- 
press permission.  The  fineness  of  touch  for  which 
Mr.  Stuart  is  justly  praised  does  not  detract  in  any 
degree  from  the  faithfulness  of  his  presentations. 

It  may  be  thought  that  the  ladies  should  have  been 
preferred  to  the  gentlemen  in  noting  the  literary  and 
artistic  workers  in  this  capital;  we  propose  always  to 
keep  the  more  precious  to  the  last.  Miss  Ella  Au- 
gusta Giles,  authoress  of  "  Bachelor  Ben,"  and  "  Out 
Erom  the  Shadows,"  has  been  honored  with  copious 
notices  in  metropolitan  journals  accustomed  to  wield 
the  scalpel  of  criticism  with  little  mercy.  Her  books 
survive  such  scrutiny,  and  further  contributions  from 
her  pen  may  be  anticipated.  Miss  Giles  has  now 
assumed  the  role  of  editress  of  the  Milwaukee  Maga- 
zine, which  with  the  commencement  of  the  coming 
year  will  put  on  a  new  dress,  and  become  much  more 
widely  known  as  the  "  Midland." 

Mrs.  Sara  C.  Bull  has  recently  entered  the  field  of 
literature,  and  has  already  established  for  herself  a 
brilliant  record  by  her  excellent  translation  of  Jonas 
Lie's  "  The  Pilot  and  his  Wife."  The  leading  peri- 
odicals on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  are  loud  in  their 
praises  of  Mrs.  Bull's  book,  and  indeed  she  has  chosen 
for  translation  a  novelist  whose  pictures  of  Norse  life 
cannot  be  surpassed.  They  are  like  the  music  of  Ole 
Bull  played  by  Ole  Bull  himself,  or  like  sky  rockets 
that  burst  in  the  zenith  and  fall  in  gentle  showers  of 
fiery  rain.     The  Pilot  and  his  Wife  is  already  in  its 


166  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

second  edition,  and  more  books  may  soon  be  looked 
for  from  Mrs.  Bull's  pen. 

Miss  Ella  Wheeler  lias  won  triumphs  as  an  author- 
ess in  this  city,  and  her  residence  in  Dane  county  ena- 
bles us  to  include  her  name  among  the  Litterateurs 
that  adorn  the  history  of  Madison.  The  young  poet- 
ess came  before  the  public  first  in  New  York  in  1873, 
when  "  Drops  of  Water  "  was  the  significant  title  of 
her  work.  During  the  same  year,  and  almost  at  the 
same  time,  her  second  book  "  Shells"  was  being  pub- 
lished in  Milwaukee,. so  that  east  and  west  were  alike 
doing  homage  to  her  genius.  "  Maurine,"  her  third 
production,  has  evoked  much  friendly  criticism,  but 
we  believe  that  "  The  Messenger,"  a  piece  published 
by  Harper  and  Brothers,  New  York,  will  hardly  be 
excelled  by  any  of  her  later  productions,  bright  and 
telling  as  they  prove. 

Miss  Wilhelmina  Fillans,  an  artist  of  considerable 
merit,  has  been  already  referred  to  as  occupying  a 
suite  of  rooms  in  the  capitol;  but  since  that  mention 
was  made,  Miss  Fillans  has  removed  to  other  quarters. 
The  lady  comes  of  a  family  of  artists,  and  her  skill  is 
beyond  question.  Many  of  her  paintings  grace  the 
homes  of  Madison,  and  her  modelings  are  no  less  fine. 
Among  which  are  a  life-sized  bust  of  Judge  L.  S. 
Dixon,  and  Chief  Justice  E.  Gr.  Ryan  of  the  Supreme 
Court  room,  and  also  a  crayon  portrait  of  Gov.  Taylor 
for  the  Agricultural  rooms. 


HISTORY    OF    MADISOX.  167 


CHAPTER    XI. 

MADISON    HOMES. 

Our  title  would  justify  a  long  chapter,  but  the  limits 
allotted  to  our  lucubrations  have  been  reached,  and  we 
deny  ourselves  the  pleasure  of  communicating  to  our 
readers  many  interesting  details  compiled  with  care. 
It  would  be  strange  if  the  charms  of  scenery,  which 
have  been  praised  by  all  observers  from  every  part  of 
the  Union;  which  determined  the  location  of  the  Cap- 
ital and  its  retention  here;  and  which  won  the  ad- 
miration of  the  Antocthonous  mound  builders  so  com- 
pletely, that  they  abode  here  for  several  centuries 
until  war  drove  them  out;  had  not  induced  many  of 
our  private  citizens  to  erect  elegant  residences  and 
almost  palatial  homes. 

ELM    SIDE. 

A  little  removed  from  the  business  portion  of  the 
city,  about  one  mile  southwesterly  from  the  State 
Capitol,  is  located  what  is  known  as  "  Elm  Side."'  In 
location  it  possesses  a  most  charming  view  of  both 
lake  and  city,  and  is  the  splendid  residence  of  Dr.  J. 
B.  Bowen.  The  house  is  accurately  represented  by 
an  engraving  on  another  page.  It  is  built  of  the 
light  colored  Madison  stone,  and  is  a  substantial  and 


168  HISTOKY    OF   MADISON. 

elegant  structure,  being  finished  in  modern  style,  and 
supplied  with  modern  conveniences.  Connected  with 
this  charming  residence,  is  a  choice  farm  of  sixty 
acres  of  excellent  land — forty  acres  of  which  are  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  the  remaining 
twenty  acres  constitute  an  extremely  fine  meadow. 
Much  care  has  been  bestowed  upon  this  place,  with  a 
view  to  making  it  a  most  charming  and  inviting 
home.  Many  of  the  native  oaks  have  been  permitted 
to  stand  in  all  their  sturdy  grandeur;  and  over  one 
hundred  elm  trees  were  planted  on  the  premises  six- 
teen years  ago;  they  have  grown  luxuriantly,  and  now 
possess  extreme  grace  and  beauty.  The  elms  —  al- 
ways handsome  — on  this  place,  have  been  so  care- 
fully trimmed,  as  to  add  special  dignity  and  grace  to 
their  natural  beauty.  Taking  everything  into  con- 
sideration—  the  native  charms  and  the  adornments 
added  by  man  —  this  is  one  of  the  most  delightful  of 
the  many  elegant  Madison  homes,  to  persons  desir- 
ous of  living  a  little  out  of  the  city.  It  is  such  a 
home  as  cannot  fail  to  give  rest  to  its  occupants,  as 
they  return  to  it,  after  the  weary  business  hours  of 
the  day  have  passed.  And  who  is  better  entitled  to 
such  a  home,  than  are  Dr.  Bowen  and  his  estimable 
family?  It  is  now  over  twenty-five  years  since  he 
located  in  Madison,  without  means  and  a  stranger. 
lie  has  acquired  a  fine  property  and  hosts  of  friends. 
He  was  the  pioneer  in  the  practice  of  homoeopathy  in 
Dane  county;  has  labored  incessantly  and  successfully 
in  building  up  a  reputation  and  in  accumulating  a 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON.  171 

fortune;  lias  served  ably  and  faithfully  as  major  of 
Madison;  and  the  numerous  patrons  who  have  re- 
ceived benefits  from  his  treatment  will  rejoice  in  his 
complete  success,  and  in  the  fact  that,  in  his  palatial 
residence,  he  enjoys,  in  a  high  degree,  the  pleasures 
and  sweets  of  substantial  home  comforts.  Pie  de- 
serves them  all. 

The  old  prejudices  have  been  well  nigh  removed 
in  this  vast  caravanserai  of  nations  and  peoples,  and 
every  man  who  comes  well  vouched  for,  finds  a  home 
that  may  be  made  as  happy  as  his  first. 

Society  in  Madison  has  been  largely  made  up  of 
men  who  have  represented  other  parts  of  the  state  in 
some  capacity,  and  coming  here,  have  been  tempted 
to  prolong  a  temporary  sojourn  into  a  life  residence. 
Men  who  can  command  the  suffrage  of  their  fellows 
must,  as  a  rule,  possess  some  excellence.  The  congre- 
gation of  such  minds  makes  a  city  a  metropolis.  The 
state  officers  make  their  homes  in  Madison  and  are,  as 
a  rule,  handsomely  lodged.  The  city  officials  include 
not  a  few  who  began  adult  life  in  this  settlement,  and 
have  grown  up  with  their  surroundings,  accumulating 
wealth  with  sound  ideas  as  to  life's  enjoyment.  The 
same  may  be  said  to  a  large  extent  of  other  officials, 
and  it  is  still  more  true  of  our  professional  classes. 
The  development  of  elegant  tastes  has  resulted  in 
beautifying  this  city  until  it  challenges  comparison 
with  others  of  like  dimensions  and  wealth,  certain 
of  victory. 


172  HISTOKY    OF    MADISON. 

The  masonic  fraternity  dating  its  claim  on  human 
regard  from  Solomon's  temple,  and  the  fidelity  of  the 
Grand  Master,  Hiram  Abiff,  has  three  blue  lodges, 
one  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  one  Council,  and  one  Com- 
mandery  in  this  city.  Brethren  of  the  mystic  tie 
make  the  five  points  of  fellowship  a  sober  reality  in 
this  region,  and  where  the  hailing  sign  becomes  neces- 
sary, there  is  never  a  lack  of  response  to  the  call. 
Labor  and  refreshment  are  alike  regarded  as  sacred 
duties,  and  free  and  accepted  Masons  who  understand 
the  golden  rule  of  life  make  the  society  which  they 
tincture  a  desirable  place  of  abode.  Masonic  Lodges, 
and  the  celebrations  arising  therefrom,  were  among 
the  earliest  social  gatherings  in  this  community,  and 
they  retain  preeminence.  Other  organizations  founded 
on  the  same  general  idea  of  brotherhood  have  a  large 
aggregate  of  members.  The  Temple  of  Honor  is  also 
represented.  Sons  of  Temperance  abound  in  good 
works;  and  Good  Templars  are  more  numerous  than, 
and  as  well  organized,  as  the  Templars  of  old  time. 

The  Odd  Fellows  have  two  Lodges  and  one  En- 
campment ;  the  Druids  have  a  Grove ;  the  Germans  have 
a  Scheutzen  Club,  a  Msennerchor,  a  Dramatic  Society, 
a  Turn  Yerein,  a  Literary  Society  and  other  associa- 
tions. There  are  also  a  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic; 
a  County  Bible  Society  and  other  affiliations  so  num- 
erous in  connection  with  the  several  churches,  that  no 
person  desiring  fellowship  can  long  remain  a  stranger. 
The  city  has  innumerable  attractions  for  every  variety 
of  taste.     That  must  be  a  strange  intellect  that  would 


1  ^e&GP.OA-^^M. 


R@SEBA.PCK    GQ)TTft6i. 


IIISTOEY    OF    MADISON.  175 

find  nothing  congenial  in  the  numberless  societies 
that  open  their  circle  to  the  worthy;  nor  any  objects 
of  interest  in  the  vast  collections'  in  the  rooms  of  the 
Historical  Society,  the  Agricultural  Association,  and 
the  Academy.  The  schools  and  churches  have  been 
named  in  their  order,  but  their  social  value  as  organ- 
izations would  deserve  whole  pages  of  comment  and 
laudation.  Our  illustrations  must  afford  some  faint 
idea  of  the  architectural  beauty  of  this  city,  and  the 
discreet  reader  will  argue  from  the  less  to  the  greater. 
The  University  overlooking  Lake  Mendota  tells  its 
own  story.  Lake  Monona,  and  the  vessels  of  the 
Yacht  Club  furnish  a  handsome  picture.  One  church 
must  stand  as  the  representative  of  many.  The  streets 
and  principal  stores  are  not  entirely  wanting  in  our 
illustrations.  The  view  of  Lakeside  over  Monona  is 
beautiful  as  a  scene  in  dreamland.  The  old  house  of 
Eben  Peck,  long  since  torn  down,  reappears  as  it 
stood  in  1837.  The  view  of  the  Post  Office  and  City 
Hall,  with  Lake  Mendota  in  the  distance,  is  a  charm- 
ing representation  which,  in  a  general  way,  will  give 
the  distant  observer  an  idea  of  the  capital  of  Wis- 
consin. The  presentation  of  the  Capitol  itself  comes 
as  near  as  the  circumstances  will  permit  to  a  repro- 
duction of  the  original;  and  but  that  the  expense 
would  have  been  such  as  to  have  largely  increased  the 
selling  price  of  the  work,  it  would  have  been  a  pleasure 
to  have  completed  the  pictorial  circle,  so  that  the 
artist's  pencil  and  graver  might  have  done  justice  to 
beauties  which  the  skill  of  the  writer  fails  to  present 
in  adequate  language. 


176  HISTOEY    OF   MADISON. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

VISITORS    AND   THEIR   PLEASURES. 

Pursuit  of  health  has  brought  thousands  to  this 
city,  who  have  found  hygienic  conditions  not  often 
combined.  Beauty  is  a  large  element  in  relieving  the 
pressure  of  nervous  complaints  by  calling  attention 
from  real  and  assumed  disorders.  That  charm  is 
here  in  the  superlative  degree,  and,  in  addition,  a 
mild  and  salubrious  atmosphere.  There  are  exquisite 
nooks  for  bathing,  and  enclosures  in  which  art  has 
assisted  nature  in  making  the  pellucid  waters  attract- 
ive, so  that  swimmer  and  nonswimmer  can  enjoy  the 
health  giving  plunge.  The  amateur  fisherman  could 
hardly  find  better  sport  than  here,  and  while  patiently 
waiting  for  a  bite,  his  eyes  can  feast  on  beautiful  im- 
pressions, which  can  never  be  effaced.  The  lakes  in- 
vite rowing  and  sailing;  the  shores  unfold  new  at- 
tractions with  every  change,  and  steamboats  make  ex- 
cursions with  modest  speed,  lest  visitors  should  not 
enjoy  the  landscape  inclosing  the  crystal  gem.  Citi- 
zens propose  to  improve  the  drives  which  girdle  the 
city  and  lakes.  One  suggests  a  road  round  Fourth 
Lake,  following  the  shore,  which  would  give  ua 
drive  of  twenty-five  miles,  absolutely  unrivaled  for 
beauty."     A  second  proposition  contemplates  a  new 


(Or  Third  Lake) 

LOOKING    TOWARD     MADISON. 


12 


HISTORY    OF    M.ADISOH.  179 

lake  shore  drive  of  five  miles,  to  the  charming  site  of 
the  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  and  there  is  good 
hope  that  the  idea  will  be  realized.     The  beautiful 
university  drive  is  likely  to  be  extended  to  Picnic 
Point.     There  are  rural  retreats,  easy  of  access  from 
this  capital,  which   shut  out  the  city,  yet  within  an 
hour's  transit,  all  the  advantages   of   social  science 
and  material  advancement  can  be  reached.     Visitors 
are  attracted  by  our  university  and  pleased  with  our 
graded  schools.     The  church  spires  pointing  to  the 
stars  challenge  admiring  notice.     The  railroads  and  - 
postoffice,  with  always  increasing  facilities,  and  the 
telegraph  wires  by  which  the  world  is  girdled,  bespeak 
the  obedient  spirit  of  science,  more  apt  than  the  fabled 
Ariel.     The  Capitol,  whose  form  of  beauty  compels 
-admiration  as  soon  as  the  eye  lights  on   Madison, 
offers  substantial  evidences  of  civilization  connecting 
us  with  the  great  world  which  we  daily  miniature. 
Here,  in  the  several  libraries,  are  choice  books,  news- 
papers and  periodicals;   the  best  works  of  juriscon- 
sults;   the  treasures  of   common  and  civil   law,  ex- 
pressed  essences    of    knowledge    from   the   days   of 
Justinian  to  our  own;    and  by  their  side  the  liveliest 
essays  of  magazine  contributors,  separating  them  from 
works  of  profound  historians  and  scientists.     On  the 
desks  are  our  best  newspapers,  in  many  respects  the 
foremost  in  the  world,  filled  with  vigorous  assaults  of 
partisan  editors,  who  anticipate  the  final  cataclysm 
unless  their  measures  and  their  men  are  sustained; 
yet  reassuring  us  by  the  news  flashed  along  the  wires, 


180 


HISTOKY    OF    MADISON. 


through  mid  air  and  under  the  sea,  which,  in  reveal- 
ing the  condition  of  every  country  on  the  earth,  from 
New  York  and  London  to  Japan  and  "Far  Cathay," 
unfold  the  fact  that  a  thousand  such  jeremiads  daily 
reach  the  limbo  of  nonfulfillment. 

It  has  been  objected  that  our  population  of  ten 
thousand  has  not  originated  a  line  of  steamboats  that 
will  compare,  for  beauty,  power  and  convenience,  with 
the  Atlantic  glories  of  Cunard  or  White  Star;  but  the 
Scutanawbequon  and  the  new  screw  steamer  Men- 
dota,  possess  names  that  rival  the  finest  on  the  sea, 
and  our  boats,  if  not  numerous  and  large  as  the  Span- 
ish armada,  are  equal  to  the  occasion. 

The  names  of  celebrities  who  have  visited  us,  as 
revealed  by  the  books  of  the  Park,  the  Yilas  House, 
and  the  Capitol,  would  fill  a  volume,  but  few  would, 
peruse  the  record.  Prince  Napoleon,  who  passed 
through  our  city  to  Saint  Paul,  accompanied  by  his 
beautiful  wife,  the  daughter  of  Victor  Emanuel,  II  Re 
Galantuomo,  as  Garibaldi  named  him,  could  hardly 
be  considered  our  visitor,  for  he  and  his  suite  were 
closely  cooped  within  locked  doors,  during  the  stay, 
but  that  could  not  prevent  a  cheer  of  welcome  before 
the  distinguished  Prince  parvenu  moved  on.  It  is 
more  to  our  purpose  that  such  men  as  Secretary  Sew- 
ard and  Charles  Francis  Adams  have  been  our  guests, 
and  raised  their  eloquent  voices  to  infuse  their  spirit 
into  the  people.  The  balcony  of  the  Yilas  House, 
and  the  eastern  steps  of  the  capitol  had  on  that  day 
immense    assemblies.      Frederika    Bremer   was   for 


ANQLEWQRM    STATION. 


HISTOKY   OF   MADISON.  183 

months  a  delighted  visitor  to  our  city  and  lakes. 
Louis  J.  D.  Agassiz,  the  eminent  Swiss  naturalist,  of 
whom  Whipple  says :  "  He  is  not  merely  a  scientific 

thinker,  he  is  a  scientific  force The  immense 

influence  he  exerts  is  due  to  the  energy  and  geniality 
which  distinguished  the  nature  of  the  man.  lie  in- 
spires as  wrell  as  performs;  communicates  not  only 
knowledge,  but  the  love  of  knowledge."  He  was  an 
appreciated  and  appreciative  visitor,  and  many  in  this 
city  can  testify  to  those  truths  from  personal  experi- 
ence, who  grieved  as  for  a  dear  friend  when  Agassiz 
died.  The  magician  Ole  Bull,  whose  wand  is  the 
wonder  working  bow,  has  on  the  shores  of  those  lakes 
a  home,  to  which  the  demands  of  a  music  loving 
world  make  him  a  rare  visitor;  but  when  leisure  on 
this  side  of  the  Atlantic  permits,  he  can  forget  Ole- 
ana  in  the  witcheries  of  this  region.  The  praise  be- 
stowed upon  Ole  Bull  by  Longfellow  in  his  "  Tales  of 
a  "Wayside  Inn,"  beggar  any  tribute  that  we  could 
render.  We  content  ourselves  with  claiming  the  dis- 
tinction that  belongs  to  Madison.  Horace  Greeley 
and  Bayard  Taylor  visited  us  as  lecturers ;  during  the 
same  season  Jas.  Russel  Lowell,  Parke  Godwin,  John 
G.  Saxe,  and  other  national  celebrities  were  with  us, 
and  their  appreciative  words  are  treasured.  Sumner 
lectured  here  on  the  question,  "Are  We  a  Nation?" 
Gen.  Sherman  was  with  us  as  the  guest  of  Col.  Rey- 
nolds, when  the  famous  "  March  to  the  Sea"  was  the 
topic  of  all  talkers;  and  Philip  Sheridan,  not  less 
famous  for  his  dashing  exploits  with  cavalry. 


1S-A  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 


CHAPTEE   XIII. 

MOUNDS,  MONUMENTS,  CAVES  AND  RELICS. 

We  live  surrounded  by  monuments  which  point  to 
the  almost  forgotten  past,  telling  of  our  remote  prede- 
cessors,  the  mound  builders.  The  site  occupied  by 
our  city  was  for  a  prolonged  term,  thousands  of  years 
ago,  the  abode  of  a  people  whose  semi-architectural 
remains  connect  them  with  the  civilizations  of  Aztecs 
and  Toltecs,  in  Mexico  and  Central  America.  The 
Teocallis  or  temples,  and  the  P'ueblos  or  village 
houses,  preserved  by  the  more  enduring  character  of 
their  materials,  in  some  cases,  as  at  Palenque,  Copan, 
Uxmal,  long  buried  in  impassable  forests,  are  the 
wonder  of  the  explorer;  our  monuments  are  only  less 
complete.  "Where  the  central  building  of  our  State 
University  stands,  was  a  large  mound  crowning  the 
eminence,  but  necessity  compelled  its  removal.  In 
other  supremely  beautiful  positions,  such  mounds,  all 
that  remain  of  more  extensive  erections,  bespeak 
identity  in  taste  and  judgment  between  the  aboriginal 
occupants  and  ourselves.  St.  Louis  was  once  called 
Mound  City,  because  of  the  large  number  of  emi- 
nences standing  where  that  city  unfolds  her  vast  pro- 
portions. There  are  mound  cities  in  many  of  the 
states.     Cincinnati,  Chicago,  Milwaukee,  among  oth- 


HISTORY    OF    MADISON.  1ST 

er  cities  indicate  like  agreement  with  tlie  building 
of  this  city  upon  a  spot  on  which  the  mound  builders 
congregated.  That  fact  is  repeated  in  almost  every 
large  town  in  the  Mississippi  valley.  Napoleon  told 
his  soldiery  that  from  the  pyramids,  four  thousand 
years  looked  down  upon  them ;  and  not  forgetting  the 
words  of  Fuller,  that  those  structures,  "  doting  with 
age,  have  forgotten  the  names  of  their  founders,"  it 
seems  probable  that  this  continent  had  an  older  civili- 
zation than  that  of  the  Ptolemies.  Possibly  this  was 
the  first  habitable  land  then  connected  with  Europe  and 
Asia,  and  the  home  of  a  people  who  never  dreamed  of 
submergence  by  the  barbarism,  which  has  omitted  to 
preserve,  where  it  has  not  expunged  their  records. 
There  are  strange  agreements,  and  variations  ho  less 
curious,  between  some  of  the  Egyptian  structures  and 
our  mounds.  Should  the  sands  that  flow  on  that  land  as 
the  sea  once  rolled  over  Sahara,  ebb  back  from  the 
works  which  they  partially  cover,  more  significant 
resemblances  might  appear.  We  find  no  traces  to 
determine  the  relationship  between  the  people,  unless 
the  Ethiopians  from  Arabia  Felix  were  the  founders 
of  both  civilizations;  but  the  likeness  and  unlike- 
ness  of  their  works  afford  evidences  that  similar  ideas 
prevailed  in  the  same  or  succeeding  cycles  in  widely 
distant  quarters.  The  discovery  of  America  by  Co- 
lumbus, and  by  his  predecessors,  the  Norsemen,  are 
affairs  of  yesterday,  compared  with  the  primitive  oc- 
cupation to  which  the  mounds  bear  testimony,,  dat- 
ing from  thousands  of  years  before  the  Christian  era. 


138  HISTORY   OF   MADISON. 

Settlements  in  this  region  must  have  been  large,  so 
great  were  the  remains  that  had  defied  "  the  tooth  and 
razure  of  oblivion,"  until  onr  civilization,  with  build- 
ings and  cultivation  of  the  soil,  made  demolition 
rapid.  Animal  shaped  mounds  were  here  first  noted. 
Dr.  Lapham  wrote  on  this  subject  to  the  papers  in 
1836;  subsequently,  Mr.  Taylor  communicated  to  the 
American  Journal  of  Science,  describing  eminences 
with  outlines  of  man  and  the  lower  animals,  at  dis- 
tances ranging  six,  ten  and  twelve  miles  from  the 
four  lakes.  So  marked  were  the  differences  between 
our  mounds  and  those  in  other  states,  that  many  con- 
cluded they  were  relics  of  a  distinct  race;  but  inves- 
tigation showed  agreements  between  the  structures 
that  dot  the  country  from  the  great  lakes  to  Mexico 
and  Central  America.  Some  of  the  curious  mounds 
in  this  region  that  were  in  existence  at  recent  dates, 
or  are  now,  may  be  mentioned;  but  a  complete  record 
will  not  be  attempted.  Visitors  coming  to  explore, 
will  find  no  lack  of  indications  to  put  them  on  the 
track  of  discovery.  Dr.  Lapham,  assisted  by  the  re- 
sources of  the  Antiquarian  Society  and  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution,  omitted  surveys  which  would  have 
been  as  interesting  as  any  in  his  "  Antiquities  of 
"Wisconsin,"  and  Messrs.  Squier  and  Davis,  in  the 
"  Ancient  Monuments  of  the  Mississippi  Yalley," 
were  similarly  unable  to  complete  the  catalogue. 

A  great  mound  on  State  street  was  used  grading 
the  hollows  in  that  locality.  Near  Lake  Monona,  ad- 
joining Ex-Governor  Fairchild's  residence,  was  a  liz- 


NtVig,   ftW'LS    ftffCB    eRftOELifg. 


HISTOKY    OF   MADISON.  191 

arc!  318  feet  long.  The  figure  was  rude,  but  not  more 
so  than  was  inevitable,  considering  that  the  mound 
was  formed  of  surface  soil,  nobody  knows  how  many 
centuries  ago.  It  was  removed  in  grading  "Wilson 
street  and  Wisconsin  avenue.  The  mounds  near  the 
Hospital  for  the  Insane  are  too  well  known  to  require 
description,  and  moreover,  too  numerous.  North  of 
Lake  Wingra  there  were  many  mounds,  embodying 
specimens  of  almost  every  variety,  except  works  for 
defense.  Five  of  them  were  oblong,  twenty  seven 
circular,  one  circular  with  lateral  projections,  one  a 
bird,  and  two  quadrupeds.  Every  writer  on  this  sub- 
ject is  indebted  to  the  surveys  made  by  Dr.  Lapham, 
whose  work  adorns  the  shelves  of  the  Historical 
Society,  with  those  of  other  authors  who  have  made 
mounds  their  specialty.  The  south  angle  of  Third 
Lake  has  extensive  and  regular  works,  in  rows  paral- 
lel with  the  ridges,  occupying  ground  that  slopes 
from  the  lake,  like  the  seats  in  an  amphitheatre. 
Back  of  these  mounds  is  another,  uniting  the  forms 
of  a  bird  and  a  cross.  At  the  foot  is  a  sandy  ridge 
having  twenty-four  elevations,  on  some  of  which  ad- 
ditional eminences  appear,  representing  animals.  The 
twenty-four  elevations  may  have  been  accidental,  but 
they  do  not  bear  that  appearance.  The  animal-shaped 
mounds  upon  them  are  clearly  artificial.  Dr.  Lap- 
ham  noticed  a  modern  grave  on  one  of  the  eminences, 
and  on  another  the  poles  of  an  Indian  wigwam,  but 
no  Indian  can  give  an  idea  as  to  the  origin  of  the 
mounds.      The  third  volume  of  Bancroft's  "  United 


192  HISTORY    OF    MADISON. 

States  "  contains  a  suggestion  from  Prof.  Hitchcock 
that  accident  and  natural  action  would  account  for 
many  supposed  antique  works.  There  are  earthworks 
that  will  not  admit  of  any  such  explanation,  and  numer- 
ous circumstances  connected  with  the  majority  are  con- 
clusive as  to  human  ingenuity  aiding  their  construc- 
tion. Probably  some  of  the  twenty-four  mounds 
were  natural  elevations,  others  having  been  added. 
All  of  them  were  covered  with  soil,  and  forest  trees 
were  growing  on  some  of  them  when  Dr.  Lapham 
wrote.  A  ridge  of  land  near  the  margin  of  a  lake 
might  be  ascribed  to  the  frosts  of  succeeding 
winters,  but  no  such  action  could  produce  a  series  of 
mounds.  The  First,  Second  and  Fourth  Lakes  have 
eminences  that  will  repay  inspection. 

The  world-famous  "  ancient  city  of  Aztalan  "  de- 
mands greater  space  for  description  than  can  be  afford- 
ed. The  visitor  cannot  do  better  than  spend  a  portion 
of  his  time  in  the  rooms  of  our  Historical  Society,  con- 
sulting the  volumes  mentioned  and  others  yet  to  be 
specified,  after  which  he  will  undertake  inspection  more 
intelligently,  with  much  increased  pleasure.  Nothing 
short  of  actual  examination  can  give  an  adequate  idea 
of  those  earth-works.  Between  Williams'  Bay,  on 
Lake  Geneva,  and  the  head  of  Duck  Lake,  overlook- 
ing both  waters,  is  a  mound  representing  a  bow  and 
arrow,  aimed  at  Lake  Geneva.  The  span  of  the  bow 
is  fifty  feet,  the  work,  finely  outlined,  is  in  proportion. 
Lake  Koshkonong  skirts  Dane  county,  miscalled 
Dade,  in  the  "  Ancient  Monuments  of  the  Mississippi 


HISTOKY    OF    MADISON.  193 

Valley,"  and  the  mounds  in  that  locality  have  been 
visited  by  President  W.  C.  Whitford,  of  Milton  Col- 
lege, and  Mr.  W.  P.  Clarke.  The  party  cut  through 
some  mounds,  and  were  repaid  by  relics  of  great  ar- 
chiac  value.  A  skull  of  excellent  type  was  removed 
by  them,  and  many  fragments  of  pottery  similar  to  the 
debris  in  the  remains  of  the  Pueblo  Indians,  besides 
tools,  ornaments  and  weapons,  which  will  reward  a 
visit  to  the  college.  Some  of  the  mounds  have  been 
used  for  sacrificial  purposes,  and  others  for  burial, 
but  whether  originally  constructed  for  those  purposes 
must  be  matter  of  conjecture.  Residence,  fortifica- 
tion, burial  and  worship  have  been  served  by  the 
mounds  in  varying  proportions. 

Assume  a  common  origin  for  Mound  builders, 
Aztecs  and  Toltecs,  an  affiliation  which  becomes  easy 
now  that  the  mounds  have  been  traced  to  Mexico,  and 
we  can  comprehend  the  purposes  for  which  many  of 
those  elevations  were  prepared.  In  Mexico,  and  along 
the  line  by  which  the  Mississippi  valley  mound  builders 
must  have  migrated  if  they  reached  or  departed  from 
the  magnificent  cities  of  Palenque  and  Uxmal,  there 
are  wrecks  of  dwellings  in  advanced  stages  of  decay, 
which  illustrate  the  service  rendered  by  the  founda- 
tion mound.  The  earthworks  were  floors  on  which 
were  erected  the  pueblos,  supposed  by  the  Spaniards 
to  be  palaces  of  nobles,  attended  on  by  armies  of  de- 
pendents; but  in  reality,  common  abodes,  in  which 
whole  cities,  towns  or  villages  found  lodgment,  pur- 
suing customary  avocations,  living  together  in  com- 
13 


194:  HISTOKY   OF   MADISOX. 

munistic  equality.  Some  of  those  buildings  would 
accommodate  five  hundred,  in  others  five  thousand 
could  find  room.  The  mound,  sometimes  faced  and 
covered  with  stone,  was  itself  a  fortification,  difficult 
of  access,  unless  the  visitor  was  aided  from  within. 
The  platform  being  reached,  the  assailant,  supposing 
war  to  be  his  object,  found  himself  confronted  on 
three  sides  by  buildings,  each  story  receding  from  the 
building  line  beneath,  so  that  a  stage  remained  avail- 
able for  defense.  The  edifice  could  not  be  battered 
down,  the  enemy  possessed  no  artillery ;  could  not  be 
set  on  fire,  it  was  faced,  and  to  a  great  extent  con- 
structed with  stone;  could  not  be  stormed,  there 
were  no  doorways  and  stairs,  the  upper  floors  being 
reached  by  ladders  and  window  entrances,  which  could 
be  made  unapproachable.  "Within  that  fortification 
the  Pueblo  Indians  found  safety  against  aboriginal 
war;  and  from  windows  and  stages,  as  well  as  from 
occasional  apertures  for  defense,  missiles  could  be  pro- 
pelled with  deadly  effect.  We  find  the  floors  of  such 
buildings  scattered  through  the  valley  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, but  the  vast  deltas  not  being  prodigal  of  stone, 
wooden  buildings  or  mud  walls  were  substituted. 
These  materials  decaying,  the  mounds  alone  remain. 
The  ISTatchez  Indians  lived  in  houses  of  wood  erected 
on  mounds,  which  may  have  been  their  own  handi- 
work, or  that  of  long  forgotten  predecessors,  when 
Tonti  and  La  Salle  observed  their  worship  of  the  sun, 
and  other  indications  of  Mexican  fellowship.  The  long 
house  of  the  Iroquois,  in  which  the  tribe  lived  in  com* 


HISTORY   OF   MADISON.  195 

mon,  with  a  fireplace  for  each  family,  shows  that 
there  may  have  been  a  time  when  nearly  all  were  one 
brotherhood,  acquiring  customs  since  modified  by  cir- 
cumstances, never  wholly  changed.  The  Teocallis  or 
Temple  mounds,  of  which  there  are  many  examples, 
had  also  crowning  edifices.  Features  of  resemblance 
remain  where  compatible  with  the  partial  use  of  per- 
ishing materials.  The  truncated  pyramids  approached 
by  graded  ways,  and  the  final  stages  upon  which  sac- 
rifices were  offered,  continue,  because  their  constitu- 
ents are  little  subject  to  decay.  Professor  C.  G. 
Forshey  followed  those  works  with  minute  annotation 
through  the  Mississippi  valley,  and  the  reader  can 
find  the  results  in  "Foster's  Pre-Historic  Races." 
Many  of  the  mounds  support  trees  estimated  at  from 
four  hundred  to  a  thousand  years  old.  Capt.  Jona- 
than Carver  was  first  to  invite  attention  to  the  mounds 
in  the  great  valley,  having  examined  works  of  defense 
near  Mount  Trempealeau.  He  also  discovered  the 
cave  of  Wakan  Tebee,  since  destroyed  by  railroads, 
which  had  hieroglyphs  or  pictographs  on  its  walls. 
Much  that  pertains  to  this  subject  is  omitted.  Our 
book  can  be  little  other  than  a  fingerpost,  pointing  to 
localities  and  monuments  that  will  not  permit  of 
enumeration.  The  undeciphered  hieroglyphs  on 
Gales  Bluffs,  near  La  Crosse,  are  monuments  that 
will  not  serve  their  purpose  until  the  signs  have  de- 
livered up  their  meaning.  Sun  dried  bricks,  bearing 
impressions  of  the  hands  of  workmen;  clay  that 
served  as  a  casing  for  a  great  man  defunct,  bearing 


196 


HISTORY    OF   MADISON. 


similar  impressions  of  hands  that  shaped  it  over  the 
corpse,  preparatory  to  the  burning  which  gave  the 
consistency  of  brick;  the  burnt  clay  that  is  found 
mixed  with  charred  straw,  in  the  works  at  Aztalan; 
the  ornaments  of  copper,  silver,  obsidian,  porphyry 
and  green  stone,  the  tools  and  weapons  by  which  men 
sustained  themselves  and  little  ones,  are  of  the  high- 
est interest.  The  telescopic  tube  of  stone,  with  which 
the  mound  builders  examined  the  heavenly  bodies,  as 


PORPHYRY, 


GREENSTONE. 


appears  on  a  Peruvian  relic,  showing  a  figure  carveci 
on  silver,  bespeaks  high  civilization.  The  stone  bat- 
tle axes  found  at  Kenosha;  stone  hatchets  from  Cot- 
tage Grove,  from  Green  Bay,  and  from  our  immedi- 
ate surroundings,  are  replete  with  human  interest,  be- 
cause full  of  mystery  from  an  age  unknown.  Some 
day  we  may  master  the  problem  which,  sphynx  like, 
demands  solution,  as  to  the  tumuli  systematically 
raised,  enclosed  in  mathematical  figures  and  lines  of 


HISTOKT    OF   MADISON.  197 

circumvallation,  builded  by  men  wlio  were  conversant 
with  mining  operations,  who  could  procure  their  own 
cojjper  from  the  matrix,  as  well  as  shape  it  into  artis- 
tic forms;  who  wove  cloth  probably  when  the  lake 
villages  of  Switzerland  were  first  settled;  who  could 
prepare  designs  in  stone  and  clay,  expressing  thoughts 
that  approach  the  sublime,  and  evince  a  comprehen- 
sion of  the  beautiful;  yet  have  fallen  below  the  realm 
of  history,  leaving  to  generations  now  remotely  fol- 
lowing them,  the  task  to  discover  "Whence  came 
they  ? "     "  "Whither  did  they  go  ? " 


By  the  kindness  of  S.  C.  Griggs  &  Co.,  the  well 
known  publishers,  we  present  engravings  of  earth- 
works and  other  relics  of  the  Mound  Builders  from 
"Foster's  Pre-Historic  Races,"  a  book  which  should 
be  in  the  hands  of  every  thoughtful  reader.  The 
Mound  Builders  could  not  be  omitted  from  our  rec- 
ord, but  a  complete  statement  within  our  limits  is  im- 


198  HISTORY   OF    MADISON. 

possible,  and  it  affords  us  pleasure  to  refer  the  stu- 
dent to  the  fascinating  pages  of  Foster.  The  works 
at  Marietta  were  examined  by  Lyell  in  1842.  On 
that  spot  Dr.  Hildreth  saw  a  tree  which  showed  eight 
hundred  rings  of  annual  growth.  Prior  to  that  time 
President  Harrison  had  written  a  memoir,  which 
went  to  show,  that  thousands  of  years  must  have 
elapsed  from  the  first  formation  of  the  mound  before 
such  growths  were  possible.  Every  circumstance  con- 
nected with  the  mounds  points  to  a  remote  antiquity. 
Illustrations  of  utensils,  weapons,  tools  and  orna- 
ments, might  have  been  indefinitely  extended,  but 
enough  has  been  given  to  suggest  the  degrees  of  civ- 
ilization attained  by  the  builders  and  occupants  of  the 
mounds  in  the  Mississippi  valley.  The  times  in 
which  they  flourished  cannot  be  safely  computed,  but 
Dr.  Dowler  found  a  skeleton  at  New  Orleans,  for 
which  he  claims  an  antiquity  of  fifty  thousand  years; 
and  Agassiz  gives  an  estimate  of  ten  thousand  years, 
at  the  least,  as  the  age  of  human  remains  in  Florida. 
The  wondrous  transmutations  witnessed  by  this  con- 
tinent cannot  be  better  illustrated  than  by  the  fact 
that  the  fossils  of  our  rocks  alone,  reveal  the  form  of 
the  ancestors  of  the  horse  and  ass;  although  there 
were  no  horses  on  this  continent  when  the  Spaniards 
landed  in  South  America,  save  those  which  were 
brought  by  the  invading  soldiery. 

Enough  as  to  our  predecessors,  although  enough 
has  never  yet  been  said.  We  turn  to  other  features 
of  interest.     Eleven   miles  a  little  to  the  south  of 


HISTORY   OF   MADISON. 


199 


west  of  Madison,  in  the  ridge  dividing  the  valley  of 
Sugar  river  from  the  lake  country,  is  a  wonderful 
cave,  which  unlike  the  "  cave  of  the  Great  Spirit," 
liscovered  by  Captain  Carver,  has  not  been  destroyed 


§IPMLGKR&L   URNS. 

by  railroads.  The  basin  of  a  lake  covering  an  area 
of  four  thousand  acres,  discharged  its  volume  ages 
since  into  the  bluff  by  which  it  was  bounded,  and  has 
worn  the  channel  into  a  series  of  chambers  and  pas- 
sages, which  have  been  penetrated  two  thousand  feet 


200  HISTORY    OF   MADISON. 

by  explorers,  who  do  not  know  the  extent  of  the  cav- 
ern. There  is  no  lake  to  fill  the  basin,  nor  has  it 
been  ascertained  where  the  waters  found  egress 
below.  The  Four  Lakes  are  five  hundred  feet  be- 
neath the  level  of  the  basin,  and  Sugar  river  flows  at 
a  distance  of  about  a  mile  and  a  half;  but  nothing 
indicates  that  the  riparian  current  is  augmented  from 
the  old  lake  level.  Explorers,  with  proper  appli- 
ances, will  find  within  the  cavern  a  field  for  romantic 
adventure  and  curious  observation.  The  grotto  opens 
in  the  upper  magnesian  limestone,  beneath  which  a 
stratum  of  sandstone  has  been  reached,  and  the  action 
of  the  water  cannot  have  failed  to  shape  vast  halls, 
which  imagination  may  people  with  gnomes,  fairies 
and  dwarfs,  sufficient  for  unnumbered  nursery  sto- 
ries. The  entrance  is  obstructed  by  debris,  but  four 
narrow  passages  remain;  within,  is  a  succession  of 
chambers,  ornamented  by  stalactite  and  stalagmite, 
that  glisten  in  fantastic  shapes  when  torches  are  in- 
troduced. Yoices  of  visitors  can  be  heard  distinctly 
on  the  ground  overhead,  the  roof  is  in  some  parts 
much  attenuated.  After  a  storm,  when  the  waters 
have  been  dammed  back  from  underground  fissures, 
the  air  escaping,  roars  like  a  steam  whistle.  It  is 
probable  that  fossil  remains  may  be  found  in  the 
many  storied  cavern,  sufficient  to  fill  our  museums. 


HISTORICAL   INTRODUCTION. 


Dane  county  is  situated  about  the  center  of  the  state  running 
east  and  west,  or  midway  between  Lake  Michigan  and  the  Missis- 
sippi river,  about  twenty-four  miles  north  of  the  southern  line  of  this 
state  and  Illinois.  In  the  north  it  is  bounded  by  Columbia  and  Sauk 
counties,  on  the  south  by  Rock  and  Green,  on  the  east  by  Dodge 
and  Jefferson,  and  on  the  west  by  Iowa,  the  Wisconsm  river  cross- 
ing the  northwest  corner,  dividing  it  from  Sauk.  This  river  has 
its  source  in  the  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  on  the  Michigan  state  boundary, 
runs  south  to  Portage,  thence  west  to  the  Mississippi  river,  almost 
equally  dividing  our  state,  and  draining  in  its  course  an  area  of 
11,900  square  miles.  The  county  is  forty-two  miles  from  east  to 
west,  thirty  miles  from  north  to  south,  with  an  area  of  1,235  square 
miles,  thirty-five  of  which  is  covered  with  water  of  the  lakes.  There 
are  thirty-five  townships  of  thirty-six  square  miles  each,  except  the 
townships  of  Black  Earth  and  Mazomanie.  The  latter  has  eigh- 
teen square  miles,  and  the  former  thirty.  Its  latitude  is  43  degrees 
north,  and  longitude  89  degrees  west,  from  Greenwich.  The  State 
University  is  one  mile  due  west  from  the  State  House,  and  its  geo- 
graphical position  is  latitude,  43°  04'  33"  1-10  north;  longitude,  89° 
24"  03'  3-10  west  of  Greenwich.  The  State  House  is  located  on 
sections  13,  14,  23  and  24,  town  7  north,  range  9  east.  The  normal 
condition  of  the  barometer  is  twenty-nine  inches,  as  compared  with 
the  sea  level,  where  it  is  thirty  inches. 

The  county  is  famed  for  its  pre-historic  collections,  there  being 
few  of  its  towns  that  are  not  able  to  exhibit  some  evidences  of  the 
people  who  long  ago  made  our  county  a  favorite  resort  for  the  build- 
ing of  their  mounds,  which  whether  intended  as  places  of  inter- 
ment or  as  fortifications  for  protection,  is  as  yet  comparatively  un- 
certain, though  evidences  are  strong  in  favor  of  both  hypotheses. 
-  The  county  was  the  home  of  a  branch  of  the  Winnebago  Indians, 
and  considerable  trading  was  earned  on  between  them  and  several 
Indian  traders,  among  whom  were  Michael  St.  Cyr  (a  Canadian 
half-breed),  Joe  Pelkie,  Oliver  Armell  (Canadian  French),  Abel  Ras- 


204  HISTORICAL    INTRODUCTION. 

daH,  Wallis  Rowan,*  and  Albert  Wood  (Americans),  as  well  as  sev- 
eral others.     Rowan  was  the  only  one  who  had  a  white  wife. 

In  1836  it  was  set  off  from  the  west  part  of  Milwaukee  and  east 
part  of  Iowa  county;  it  received  the  name  of  Dane  county  from  Gov. 
Doty,  in  honor  of  Nathaniel  Dane,  who,  in  1787, introduced  the  cele- 
brated ordinance  for  the  government  of  the  northwest  territory.  In 
1839  it  was  organized  as  a  separate  county. 

The  principal  lakes  in  the  county  are  First  —  Kegonsa;  Second — 
Waubesa;  Third — Monona;  Fourth  —  Mendota;  and  Dead  Lake  or 
lake  Wingra.  They  are  about  210  feet  above  the  level  of  Lake 
Michigan,  and  about  797  feet  above  the  Atlantic  ocean. 

The  origin  of  the*  above  names  cannot  be  better  explained, 
especially  as  there  exists  a  slight  difference  of  opinion  on  the  subject, 
than  by  presenting  to  our  readers  the  following  communication 
from  Hon.  Simeon  Mills,  one  of  our  early  settlers,  whose  intimate 
connection  with  the  civil  history  of  Madison  will  be  deemed  good 
authority,  while  the  interesting  facts  supplied  by  Hon.  Lyman  C. 
Draper,  of  the  State  Historical  Society,  will  be  read  with  an  ap- 
proved evidence  of  the  steady  research  he  gives  all  such  subjects : 

THE  POUR  LAKES  —  HOW  THEY  WERE  NAMED  —  BY  SIMEON  MILLS. 

These  beautiful  sheets  of  water,  the  pride  of  Wisconsin,  centrally 
located  in  Dane  county,  occupying  part  of  five  different  townships, 
and  stretching  out,  from  northwest  to  southeast,  a  distance  of  about 
twenty  miles,  were  probably  called  "  The  Four  Lakes  "  for  the  same 
reason  that  the  principal  divisions  of  the  year  are  called  the  "four 
seasons,"  because  they  are  four  in  number.  Just  when  or  by 
whom  the  southeasterly  one  was  named  First  Lake,  and  the 
northwesterly  one  Fourth  Lake,  does  not  at  this  day  seem  quite  so 
apparent. 

In  Mr.  Tanner's  map  of  this  part  of  the  northwestern  territory, 
which  was  probably  the  first  map  ever  published  showing  these 
lakes,  they  are  neither  named  or  numbered,  but  the  stream  connect- 
ing them  is  called  the  "Gooshcahon." 

When  I  located  in  Madison,  in  1837,  the  lakes  were  then  known 
as  First,  Second,  Third  and  Fourth  lakes,  and  the  outlet  the  Cat- 
fish, and  were  not  known  or  called  by  any  other  names  for  more 
than  ten  years  thereafter.  I  was  informed  by  Mr.  Abel  Rasdall,  an 
Indian  trader  then  living  on  the  east  side  of  First  Lake,  that  the 
Winnebago  Indians  had  no  other  names  for  the  lakes  but  numbers, 

*  This  was  the  Wallis  Rowan  who  found  Lieut.  Force's  watch.  Pass- 
ing across  the  prairie  between  Poynet.te  and  the  City  of  the  Four  Lakes, 
where  he  formerly  resided,  he  found  the  remains  of  an  Indian,  whose  bones 
the  wolves  had  picked  clean,  and  giving  the  debris  a  kick,  turned  up  the 
watch.  Having  no  use  for  it  he  sometime  afterwards  offered  to  sell  it  to  E. 
M.  Williamsou,  Esq.,  who  declined  purchasing  until  satisfactory  proof  was 
obtained  that  none  of  Force's  relatives  existed.  The  fact,  however,  reaching 
the  ears  of  the  friends,  application  was  made  and  the  watch  obtained. 


HISTORICAL    INTRODUCTION".  205 


just  as  we  called  them,  and  gave  me  the  Indian  names  for  one,  two, 
three  and  four,  but  which  I  remember  only  as  harsh,  gutteral 
sounds,  that  I  cannot  now  repeat;  and  his  idea  was  that  they  were 
so  numbered  and  named  by  the  Indians.  I  was  afterwards  informed, 
upon  what  appeared  to  be  good  authority,  that  the  lakes  were  first 
named  by  numbers  by  the  surveyors  who  ran  the  township  lines 
in  this  portion  of  the  territory,  and  the  way  in  which  it  was  done, 
being  given  at  the  time,  was  conclusive  evidence  to  my  mind  that 
the  statement  was  correct.  As  the  survey  was  commenced  on  the 
south  line  of  the  territory  and  carried  north,  the  southeasterly  or 
lower  lake  was  reached  first,  which  thus  became  No.  1,  and  as  the 
survey  advanced  the  second,  third  and  fourth  were  reached  and 
numbered  in  their  regular  order.  In  this  view  of  the  case,  it  seems 
to  me  probable  that  the  Indians  learned  these  numbers  or  names 
for  the  lakes  from  the  surveyors,  which  Mr.  Easdall  found  in  use 
when  he  came  among  them,  and  that  this  numbering  was  not,  as 
he  supposed,  of  Indian  origin,  the  location  of  Mr.  R.,  on  First  Lake, 
being  some  time  after  the  survey  was  made. 

In  1849,  I  employed  a  young  man  from  Philadelphia  by  the  name 
of  Frank  Hudson,  to  survey  and  plat  what  is  known  as  the  Univer- 
sity Addition  to  Madison.  Mr.  Hudson  was  very  fond  of  reading, 
devoting  much  time  to  such  works  as  gave  accounts  of  the  habits 
and  customs  of  the  natives,  and  wlide  thus  engaged,  he  found  in 
some  Indian  legends  the  names  of  Monona  and  Mendota  (perhaps 
having  an  origin  akin  to  Winona  and  Hiawatha),  and  he  at  once 
suggested  that  the  lakes  each  side  of  Madison  be  christened  with 
those  charming  names.  This  suggestion  was  generally  approved, 
and  a  bill  was  prepared  for  the  purpose  of  giving  these  names  to 
the  Third  and  Fourth  lakes  the  sanction  of  law;  but  inasmuch  as 
we  did  not  readily  find  any  names  suitable  or  acceptable  to  give  the 
First  and  Second  lakes,  the  matter  was  dropped  at  that  time,  but 
Monona  and  Mendota  were  adopted  by  general  use. 

Some  years  later  the  subject  of  giving  Indian  names  to  all  the 
lakes  was  again  renewed,  and  the  names  of  Kegonsa  and  Waubesa 
were  found  and  adopted  by  Gov.  Farwell  and  others  then  taking  an 
interest  in  the  matter,  as  very  pretty  and  appropriate  names  for  the 
First  and  Second  lakes.  To  make  the  christening  in  such  a  public 
and  formal  manner  as  to  give  it  dignity  and  command  respect,  a 
bill  devoting  an  entire  section  to  each  lake,  the  more  firmly  to  attach 
its  chosen  name,  was  prepared,  introduced  into  the  legislature,  and 
became  a  law  on  the  14th  day  of  February,  1855;  and  by  the  5th 
section  of  the  same  act,  "  Catfish  "  was  blotted  out.,  and  Yahara  le- 
galized as  the  name  of  the  small  river  upon  which  these  lakelets  are 
strung  like  jewels  on  a  cord  of  silver. 

These  names  have  now  become  familiar  to  all,  and  I  can  see  no 
reason  why  they  were  not  as  well  selected,  as  appropriately  applied, 
and  may  not  be  as  enduring,  as  if  the  christening-  had  been  done  by 
the  wildest  savage  that  ever  shouted  his  war  whoop  or  raised  a  lodge 
pole  upon  their  varied  borders. 

Gen.  Mills'  explanation  of  the  application  of  the  names  of  Mo- 
nona and  Mendota  to  Third  and  Fourth  lakes,  needs  only  to  be 


206  HISTORICAL    INTRODUCTION. 

supplemented  with  the  origin  of  those  of  Kegonsa  and  "Waubesa 
applied  to  First  and  Second  lakes,  together  with  their  significations. 

Some  time  in  1854,  Governor  Farwell,  when  preparing  a  map  of 
Madison  and  the  Four  Lake  Country,  subsequently  published,  ap- 
plied to  Lyman  C.  Draper  to  aid  him  in  determining  appropriate 
names  for  each  of  these  beautiful  sheets  of  water.  The  Indians  de- 
nominated them  collectively  Ty-cho-be-rah,  or  the  Four  Lakes;*  to 
which  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  they  applied  numerical  names; 
else,  as  in  all  other  instances,  they  would  have  given  some  other 
specific  appellation,  which  would  have  been  handed  down  to  the 
first  settlers. 

Mr.  Draper  examined  such  Indian  vocabularies  as  he  had  hi  his 
library,  and  ascertained  that  Mendota,  which  had  been  applied  to 
Fourth  lake,  was  a  Chippewa  word,  signifying  large  or  great;f  and 
being  a  pretty  name,  and  appropriately  significant,  was  rightly 
judged  most  proper  to  remain.  The  signification  of  Monona,  ap- 
plied to  Third  lake,  does  not  seem  to  have  been  found  in  any  of  the 
limited  Indian  vocabularies  consulted;  but  Gov.  Farwell,  or  perhaps 
Col.  A.  A.  Bird,  had  understood  that  it  substantially  meant  "Fairy" 
or  "Beautiful  Water;"  so  that  also  remained  unchanged. 

As  no  special  Indian  names  were  known  for  First  and  Second 
Lakes,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  select  appropriate  designations. 
First  Lake,  as  the  outlet  of  the  others,  was  regarded  as  good  fishing 
ground,  on  the  southeastern  bay  of  which,  the  Winnebagoes,  in 
early  times,  had  a  small  village ;\  so  it  was  concluded  to  call  it  "Fish 
Lake,"  if  some  euphonious  Indian  name  could  be  found  having  that 
signification  —  Kegonsa  was  found  to  have  that  meaning.!  Gov. 
Farwell  remarked  that  the  only  thing  for  which  Second  Lake  was 
noted,  was  that  an  unusually  large  swan  had  formerly  been  killed 
there;  and  the  word  Wau-be-sa  was  found  to  signify  "Swan,"*  and 
was  accordingly  adopted  as  a  fitting  designation. 

*  Featherstonhnugh's  Canoe  Voyage  up  the  Minnay  Sotor  {Minnesota), 
and  Account  of  (he  Lead  Mines  of  Wisconsin,  in  1837. 

t  Long's  Voyages  and  Travels  of  an  Indian  Interpreter  and  Trader,  Lon- 
don, 1791,  p.  267.  S.  R.  Eigge1  Dakota  Dictionary  gives  the  meaning  of  Men- 
dotu  as  the  outlet  of  a  lake. 

X  Map  of  the  Lead  Mines,  by  R.  W.  Chandler,  of  Galena,  1830. 

I  Mr.  Draper,  after  a  lapse  of  twenty-three  years,  does  not  recall  the  full 
authority  for  this;  but  Schoolcraft's  Indian  Tribes,  ii,  4«a,  shows  that  Ke- 
go-e  was  the  Chippewa  word  signifying  fish;  and  it  is  sufficiently  apparent 
that  Kegonsa  had  its  origin  in  Ke-go-e. 

*  In  Col.  De  Peyster's  Miscellanies,  published  in  1811,  this  word  is  twice 
given  as  the  Indian  signification  for  swan,  p.  83,  and  p.  272,  probably  Chip- 
pewa or  Ottawa,  as  he  had  long  public  intercourse  with  those  tribes  during 
his  command  at  Mackinaw,  from  1774  to  1779. 


HISTORICAL    INTRODUCTION.  207 

Thus  were  placed  upon  this  map  of  the  Four  Lake  country  in 
1866,  of  which  not  less  than  ten  thousand  copies  were  circulated  hy 
the  liberal  hearted  projector,  the  names  of  Ke-gon-sa,  or  Fish  Lake, 
Wau-be-sa,  or  Swan  Lake;  Mo-no-nn,  or  Fairy  Lake;  and  Men-do- 
ta  or  Great  Lake.  Let  these  euphonious  and  appropriate  Indian 
names  be  perpetuated  forever!* 

Wingra,  or  Dead  Lake,  lies  southwest  of  Lake  Monona,  into  which 
it  dischargee  its  waters.  It  was  known  by  the  name  of  Wingra  at 
the  first  settlement  of  the  country,  but  its  signification  is  un- 
certain, f 

Before  the  county  became  settled  by  the  whites,  the  whole  section 
of  this  country  was  deemed  scarcely  inhabitable.  In  a  little  book 
written  by  John  A.  Wakefield,  Esq.,  who  accompanied  the  troops 
that  pursued  Black  Hawk  in  1832,  we  quote  the  following  as  a 
sample  of  what  was  the  opinion  then  entertained  of  this  beautiful 
Four  Lake  country  by  those  troops  who  accompanied  Gen.  Henry. 
After  describing  the  thickets  and  swamps  through  which  they 
passed  from  Rock  river  to  the  lakes,  he  says : 

"  We  were  close  to  the  four  lakes,  and  we  wished  to  come  up  with 
them  (the  Sacs)  before  they  reached  that  place,  as  it  was  known  to 
be  a  stronghold  for  the  Indians.  *  *  *  We  reached  the  first  of 
the  lakes  about  sundown,  when  Gen.  Henry  here  called  a  halt,  and 
consulted  with  Poquette,  our  pilot,  as  to  the  country  we  were  ap- 
proaching. Poquette,who  was  well  acquainted  with  the  country,  told 
him  he  could  not  get  through  it  after  night;  that  we  had  to  march 
close  to  the  margin  of  the  lake  for  some  distance,  as  the  underwood 
stood  so  thick  one  man  could  not  see  another  ten  steps.  *  *  * 
We  soon  discovered  that  the  pilot  had  told  no  he,  for  we  found  the 
country  that  the  enemy  was  leading  us  into  worse,  if  possible,  than 
what  he  had  told  us.  We  could  turn  neither  to  the  right  hand  nor 
the  left,  but  were  compelled  to  follow  the  trail  the  Indians  had  made, 
and  that,  too,  for  a  great  distance  at  the  edge  of  the  water  of  the 
lake.  *  *  *  From  a  description  of  the  country,  a  person  would 
very  naturally  suppose  that  these  lakes  were  as  little  pleasing  to  the 
eye  of  the  traveler  as  the  country  is ;  but  not  so.  I  think  they  are 
the  most  beautiful  bodies  of  water  I  ever  saw.    The  first  one  that 

*  An  effort  was  made  by  Col.  A.  A.  Bird,  when  a  member  of  Assembly  in 
1851,  to  call  the  lakes  "Doty,  Catlin,  O'Neal  and  Bird,"  in  honor  of  some  of 
the  early  settlers,  but  not  meeting  with  encouragement  from  the  member  in 
the  Senate,  Hon.  E.  B.  Dean,  jr.,  the  subject  dropped. 

t  Hon.  Josiah  A.  Noonan,  when  he  visited  the  site  of  Madisnn,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1837.  learned  from  Joe  Pelkie,  the  Indian  trader,  that  Wingra  meant 
Drick.  This,  however,  is  doubtful ;  for  the  Winnebagoee,  who  lived  in  this 
region,  were  a  family  of  the  Dakota  group,  and  the  Dakota  Dictionary  shows 
no  such  word:  and  "the  words  for  both  duck  and  dead,  have  no  resemblance 
whatever  to  Wingra,  nor  do  the  Chippewa  or  Ottawa  vocabularies  serve  to 
throw  any  light  on  the  subject. 


208  HISTORICAL    INTRODUCTION". 

we  came  to  was  about  ten  miles  in  circumference,  and  the  water  as 
clear  as  crystal .  The  earth  sloped  back  in  a  gradual  rise,  and  the 
bottom  of  the  lake  appeared  to  be  entirely  covered  with  white  peb- 
bles. *  *  *  The  second  one  must  have  been  about  twenty  miles 
in  circumference;  the  ground  rose  very  high  all  around,  and  the 
heaviest  kind  of  timber  grew  close  to  the  water's  edge.  If  those 
lakes  were  anywhere  else  except  in  the  country  they  are,  they  would 
be  considered  among  the  wonders  of  the  world.  But  the  country 
they  are  situated  in  is  not  Jit  for  any  civilized  nation  of  people  to  in- 
habit. It  appears  the  Almighty  intended  it  for  the  children  of  the 
forest." 

After  reading  the  above  we  are  forcibly  reminded  of  the  famous 
Morse  telegram,  "What  hath  God  wrought!"  "We  can  now  look 
around  on  the  city  in  its  beauty  and  the  many  villages  and  hamlets 
scattered  throughout  this  very  land,  once  deemed  so  uninhabitable. 

The  principal  streams  in  the  county  are  the  Yahara,  or  Catfish ; 
Koshkonong,  signifying  The  lake  we  live  on,  is  a  lake,  or  "spread" 
of  Rock  river,  and  Koshkonong  creek  a  small  stream  rising  in  Sun 
Prairie  and  emptying  into  lake  Koshkonong;  Black  Earth,  named 
so  from  the  color  of  the  water ;  and  Sugar  river,  from  the  number 
of  sugar  maple  trees  found  in  the  vicinity  of  its  mouth*  These 
streams  furnish  good  water  power  for  a  large  number  of  flouring 
mills  and  manufactures. 

A  large  amount  of  good  stone,  for  building  purposes,  is  obtained 
throughout  the  county.  The  cream  colored  stone  used  in  the  body 
of  the  United  States'  Postoffice,  was  obtained  in  the  town  of  West- 
port,  where  the  government  purchased,  and  still  retains  possession, 
we  believe,  of  the  quarry  from  which  the  stones  were  taken. 

The  highest  point  of  land  is  one  of  the  Blue  Mounds,  two  conical 
hills  about  twenty-five  miles  west  of  Madison,  and  through  which 
the  county  hues  of  Dane  and  Iowa  run  north  and  south,  leaving  the 
highest  peak  of  the  two  cones  in  Dane,  which  is  about  1,000  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  Wisconsin  river.  The  Indians  called  the 
mounds  "Smoky  Mountains,"  an  account  of  a  blue  smoke  or  fog 
usually  seen  on  the  top,  and  which  has  given  rise  to  the  term  Blue 
Mounds.  The  view  from  the  top  of  these  mounds  is  most  mag- 
nificent.    A  distance  of  twenty-five  to  thirty  miles  can  be  seen  from 

*  It  is  supposed  by  some  that  this  stream  received  its  name  from  the  gov- 
ernment surveyors  in  1833.  who  were  so  delighted  with  the  change  fronrthc 
hitter  marsh  water  they  had  been  drinking  that  they  named  it  Sugar  river." 
but  as  some  of  the  maps  published  in  1829  designates  one  location  on  the 
edge  of  the  stream,  in  Green  county,  "Sugar  Furnice,"  the  inference  is,  as 
well  as  the  testimony  of  the  early  settlers  there,  that  the  Indians  called  it 
"Su-ga,11  from  the  above  fact. 


HISTORICAL    INTRODUCTION.  209 

their  tops,  and  the  diversity  of  landscape  is  such  as  neither  pen  nor 
pencil  can  describe. 

The  country  is  diversified  by  hills  and  valleys  of  the  most  pleasing 
character  for  beauty  of  landscape,  and  the  soil  is  composed  of  black 
deposits  of  decayed  vegetation,  except  in  some  few  localities  where 
there  are  clay  and  sand.  The  deposits  in  the  valleys  are  often  sev- 
eral feet  deep,  while  on  the  tops  and  edges  of  hills  it  is  several  inches 
thick,  being  thus  adapted  to  all  kinds  of  agricultural  purposes. 

In  1S40,  the  population  of  the  county  was  314 — 1850,  16,654 — 1855, 
37,714—1860,  43,992—1865,  50,192—1870,  53,096—1875,  52,798, 
which  shows  it  to  be  the  largest  in  population  of  any  county  outside 
of  Milwaukee,  as  also  being  the  largest  tax-payer,  with  the  above 
exception.  The  assessed  value  of  property  in  1846  was  $50,319,  and 
the  tax  $2,526,  while  in  1875  it  was  $19,546,438,  and  the  tax  $54,- 
705.  The  tax  being  more  than  the  assessment  of  1846.  The 
bonded  indebtedness  of  tire  county  for  1876,  was  $22,000. 

There  are  123  churches,  with  a  property  valuation  of  $360,701.00. 
The  school- fund  apportionment  for  the  county  was,  in  1876,  $8,490.- 
69,  and  the  number  of  children,  20,709.  There  are  206  school  dis- 
tricts outside  of  Madison,  which  has  eight  school  buildings. 

There  are  three  railways  that  pass  through  the  county,  the  first 
of  which,  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  (formerly  the  Mil- 
waukee and  Prairie  du  Chien),  enters  on  section  32,  in  the  south- 
cast  corner  of  the  town  of  Albion,  and  then  through  the  center  of 
the  county  in  a  northwestern  direction,  leaving  on  section  18,  town 
of  Mazomanie — completed  to  Madison  in  1854.  One  of  the  branches 
of  this  road,  called  the  Madison,  Sun  Prairie  and  Watertown  road, 
leaves  Madison  in  a  northeast  direction,  and  the  county  on  section 
12,  in  town  of  Medina — completed  to  Madison  in  1868? 

The  Madison  and  Portage  road  leaves  Madison,  and  passes  di- 
rectly north,  leaving  the  county  on  section  1,  town  of  Vienna — com- 
pleted to  Madison  in  1871. 

The  Chicago  and  Northwestern  road  (formerly  the  Beloit  and 
Madison)  enters  the  county  in  the  south,  on  section  31,  town  of 
Rutland,  and  passes  directly  north  into  the  city  of  Madison,  after 
which  it  runs  in  a  northwestern  direction,  leaving  at  the  junction  of 
sections  two  and  three,  town  of  Dane— completed  to  Madison  in 
1866.  That  portion  of  this  road  between  Madison  and  Baraboo, 
before  its  completion  to  St.  Paul,was  known  as  the  Baraboo  Air  Line. 

The  county  is  an  agricultural  one  (with  limited  mining  in  Blue 
Mounds),  and  as  such,  as  well  as  in  wealth  and  population,  is  not 

14 


210  HISTORICAL    INTRODUCTION. 

surpassed  by  any  other,  but  Milwaukee,  in  the  state.  Its  rich  lands 
and  beautiful  scenery  are  not  eclipsed  by  any  county  of  its  size  either 
east  or  west,  and  its  future  prosperity  will  be  equal  to  its  past,  as  its 
resources,  hygiene  and  loveliness  of  landescape  become  known. 

On  August  12,  1837,  Simeon  Mills  was  appointed  the  first  justice 
of  the  peace  in  the  county,  and  for  sometime  was  the  only 
one.  The  early  pioneers  had  but  few  cases  requiring  legal  prosecu- 
tion, and  when  any  one  broke  any  of  the  requirements  of  law  he  was 
taken  to  the  jail,  which  was  the  grocery  and  bakery  of  a  French 
Canadian  named  Frank  W.  Shaw  (over  which  the  sheriff,  Nathan- 
iel T.  Parkinson  had  his  office),  who  was  ordered  to  feed  and  treat 
him  well,  and  then  release  him  on  parole.  It  is  needless  to  add 
that  there  were  none  who  violated  their  parole. 

In  May,  1839,  the  first  election  for  board  of  commissioners  for  the 
county  of  Dane  was  held  at  the  American  House,  in  Madison,  which 
at  that  time  was  the  only  voting  place  in  the  county.  P.  B.  Bud, 
I.  H.  Palmer  and  Simeon  Mills  were  judges  of  election,  Geo.  P. 
Delaplaine  and  La  Fayette  Kellogg,  clerk,when  the  following  officers 
were  elected : 

Simeon  Mills,  Eben  Peck  and  Jeremiah  Lycan,  board  of  commis- 
sioners, and  at  their  first  meeting  they  elected  LaFayette  Kellogg, 
clerk;  John  Stoner,  treasurer;  Win.  A.  Wheeler,  assessor;  R.  L. 
Ream,  register  of  deeds;  David  Ilyer,  coroner;  Adam  Smith  and  J. 
Ubeldine,  constables;  and  ten  days  afterwards  Gov.  Dodge  made 
the  following  appointments :  John  Catlin,  district  attorney;  Isaac 
H.  Palmer,  judge  of  probate,  N.  T.  Parkinson,  sheriff;  Isaac  At- 
■wood,  public  administrator;  Geo.  P.  Delaplaine,  district  surveyor; 
TV.  N.  Seymour,  justice  of  the  peace  (in.  place  of  Simeon  Mills,  re- 
signed); John  T.  Wilson,  auctioneer. 

In  tliis  same  year  the  county  was  organized  for  judicial  purposes, 
Judge  Irvin  presiding  as  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Terri- 
tory of  Wisconsin,  with  Simeon  Mills  as  clerk.  Mr.  Mills  held  the 
office  for  nine  years.  He  was  also  the  last  territorial  treasurer,  and 
the  first  state  senator  for  Dane  county. 

TnE  first  judges  of  election  appointed  by  the  board  of  commis- 
sioners were:  Prosper  B.  Bird,  Darwin  Clark,  James  S.  Patten, 
Prescott  Brigham,  John  C.  Kellogg  and  Sidney  Carman. 

The  first  books  and  stationery  for  the  county  were  purchased  from 
S.  L.  Rood  &  Co.,  booksellers,  stationers,  publishers  and  binders,  70 
Jefferson  avenue,  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  an  order  was  passed  to 


HISTORICAL    INTRODUCTION.  211 

have  the  treasurer  reimburse  Simeon  Mills  for  the  amount  paid  by 
him  for  the  same.* 

The  first  grand  jury  for  the  county  and  United  States  courts  in 
Wisconsin  territory,  David  Irvin,  of  the  3d  judicial  district,  presid- 
ing, was  impaneled  on  the  7th  day  of  October,  1839,  and  consisted 
of  the  f ollowmg  persons : 

George  H.  Slaughter,  foreman,  J.  Lyman,  Jr.,  W.  T.  Sterling, 
H.  Lawrence,  George  Vroman,  R.  L.  Ream,  I.  H.  Palmer,  W.  W. 
Wyman,  H.  Fake,  J.  A.  Noonan,  I\  P.  Bird,  I.  Atwood,  A.  Lull, 
D.  Hyer,  J.  Stoner. 

The  f ollowmg  were  on  the  list  given,  but  were  not  impaneled: 
M.  Blaker,  J.  C.  Kelley,  W.  B.  Long,  B.  Haney,  andE.  Brigham. 
They  served  two  days  and  were  allowed  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents 
a  day.  Mileage  was  allowed  only  to  two,  and  that  only  one  way, 
as  follows:  George  H.  Slaughter,  14  miles,  and  H.  Lawrence,  16 
miles.  The  distance  traveled  is  recorded  so  honestly  that  the  coun- 
ty was  gainer  then  of  nearly  a  mile. 

The  first  petit  jurors  were  summoned  on  the  8th  day  of  October, 

1839,  but  were  discharged  for  want  of  a  case.    Their  names  are  as 

follows : 

W.  D.  Spaulding,  R.  H.  Palmer,  P.  W.  Matts,  H.  C.  Fellows,  J. 
T.  Wilson,  W.  Hoadley,  C.  H.  Bird,  Z.  Bird,  C.  Lawrence,  Darwin 
Clark,  J.  S.  Patten,  W.  A.  Webb,  J.  A.  Hill,  C.  S.  Peaslee,  W.  G. 
Van  Bergen,  J.  Taylor,  T.  Jackson,  J.  Butterfield,  W.  N.  Seymour, 
T.  Perry  and  A.  Smith. 

The  sheriff,  N.  T.  Parkinson,  was  allowed  ten  dollars  for  his  ser- 
vices in  summoning  the  jury,  and  six  dollars  for  three  days'  attend- 
dance. 

The  first  indictment  in  the  county  was  the  United  States  against 
one  Scoville,  a  fisherman,  for  obstructing  a  stream  to  prevent  the 
passage  of  fish,  dated  October  9,  1839. 

The  first  in  chancery,  for  foreclosure  of  mortgage,  was  A.  A.  Bird 
against  Wm.  Bevard. 

:  *  Sydney  L.  Rood,  the  senior  member  of  the  above  firm,  a  few  years  after- 
wards removed  to  Milwaukee,  where  for  many  years  he  carried  on  the  same 
business.  Mr.  Mills,  recalling  the  conversation  he  had  with  him  while  pur- 
chasing the  books,  says  he  believes  he  was  instrumental  in  inducing  him  to 
come  to  Wisconsin.  He  died  in  Milwaukee  only  two  or  three  years  ago. 
A  memorable  incident  is  connected  with  the  purchase.  Before  concluding 
the  sale,  a  cry  of  "fire,1  was  raised,  and  passing  out  of  the  store  to  where  the 
alarm  came  from,  Mr.  Mills  saw  one  of  the  splendid  lake  steamers  in  flames, 
and  which  burned  to  the  water's  edge. 


212  HISTORICAL    INTKODUCTION. 

On  September  30,  1839,  a  bounty  of  three  dollars  was  allowed  on 
every  wolf's  scalp  that  had  been  killed,  but  no  legal  charges  al- 
lowed for  making  affidavit  or  certificate  of  the  same,  and  again,  on 
October  3d  of  the  same  year  the  order  was  amended  so  as  to  allow 
only  one  dollar  for  each  scalp,  while  for  the  year  1841  no  bounty 
was  allowed,  and  only  for  six  months  of  1842,  dated  January  4th. 

On  the  1st  of  July,  1839,  in  order  to  allay  some  contentment 
m  regard  to  the  assessments,  the  clerk  of  the  board  was  authorized 
to  alter  the  assessment  roll  so  that  first  rate  lands  be  valued  at  six 
dollars  an  acre,  and  second  rate  at  four  dollars,  and  town  lots  in  ac- 
cordance with  such  changes  as  the  commissioners  deemed  necessary . 

The  first  license  issued  in  the  comity  was  granted  to  Berry  Haney 
and  H.  F.  Grossman  to  keep  a  ferry  across  Wisconsin  river,  and 
dates  August  5th,  1839. 

The  tavern  license  in  1839  was,  for  Madison,  $20,  and  for  other 
parts  of  the  comity,  $  12,  while  groceries  were  not  allowed  to  sell 
less  than  one  quart  in  quantities,  and  pay  $30  for  license.  On  De- 
cember 14,  1839,  a  license  was  granted  to  Wm.  T.  Sterling  to  keep 
a  tavern  for  one  year,  and  also  to  Lloyd  and  Nichols  to  keep  a  gro- 
cery for  one  year  from  December  1st  to  May  14,  1841.  The  board 
ordered  peddler's  license  to  be  issued  at  $10  per  year,  and  on  25th 
of  June,  Arabut  Ludlow  took  out  the  first  peddler's  license  for 
goods,  wares  and  merchandise,  for  three  months,  and  had  the  same 
renewed  September  29th  for  six  months  longer. 

On  the  first  settlement  with  the  comity  treasurer,  John  Stoner, 
January  5,  1840,  the  books  showed  the  comity  indebted  to  him  for 
$55.96,  and  a  final  payment  was  not  made  to  him  until  Jan.  8,  1841. 

The  rate  of  county  tax  for  1839  was  one  mill  on  the  dollar,  for 
the  year  1840,  five  mills  and  a  half  for  county  purposes,  and  one  mill 
for  school  purposes. 

The  first  jail  was  built  in  1839  by  Nath.  T.  Parkinson,  the  first 
and  then  sheriff  of  the  comity.  It  was  built  of  square  logs  and 
was  twenty-four  feet  long,  eighteen  feet  wide,  walls  eight  inches 
thick,  one  story  high,  divided  into  two  equal  apartments,  and  cost 
$1,348.  It  was  located  on  lot  number  one,  block  one  hundred  and 
thirteen,  near  the  site  of  the  little  brick  school  house,  on  Butler 
street.  The  lots  were  donated  for  county  purposes  by  Messrs.  Prit- 
chette  and  Mason,  and  the  jail  was  the  receptacle  for  insane  persons 
as  well  as  prisoners. 


HISTORICAL   INTRODUCTION.  213 

When  the  first  circus  came  to  Madison  in  1844,  people  came  in 
ox-teams  from  Sauk  and  surrounding  counties,  and  brought  with 
them  then-  provisions,  also  feed  and  hay  for  then-  cattle,  and  camp- 
ed in  a  grove  of  burr  oaks  between  the  city  and  the  university. 

The  first  castings  made  in  our  city  were  by  Wm.  A.  Wheeler  in 
the  first  blacksmith's  shop  on  the  corner  of  Butler  and  Johnson 
streets,  block  111,  and  lot  18.  Col.  A.  A.  Bird  assisted  by  blowing 
the  bellows,  and  the  casting  was  intended  for  some  part  of  the  new 
capitol'  then  building  in  1837. 

The  pigeon-holes  used  by  John  Catlin  as  first  postmaster  in  Madi- 
son, were  for  a  number  of  years  in  possession  of  E.  M.  Williamson, 
but  who  has  recently  donated  them  to  the  State  Historical  Society. 

The  present  State  Capitol  was  completed  in  1869;  the  City  Hall 
in  1857;  Insane  Asylum  built  in  1860;  the  United  States  Court 
House  and  Post  Office,  1870;  the  northern  dormitory  of  the  Uni- 
versity in  1851 ;  the  southern  in  1855;  the  main  building  in  1859; 
the  laches  hall  in  1870;  and  science  hall  in  1877. 

The  present  court  house  was  built  in  1850,  the  jail  in  1853,  the 
Register  of  Deeds  and  Clerk  of  the  Court  building  hi  1855;  the 
county  poor  house  in  1856. 

Judge  N.  F.  Hyer,  for  many  years  a  resident  in  our  county,  was 
the  first  to  discover  and  make  known  the  interesting  remains  of  the 
ancients  found  at  Aztalan,  and  named  the  place  after  the  Aztec 
race,  who  were  supposed  at  one  time  to  have  lived  there,  as  well  as 
around  that  whole  section  of  country.  After  the  discovery,  the 
judge  wrote  an  article  giving  the  plan  and  description  of  what  ap- 
peared to  him  an  ancient  fortification,  and  so  great  was  the  interest 
created  on  the  subject,  that  the  article  from  first  appearing  in  a 
Milwaukee  paper,  was  copied  throughout  the  United  States  and 
France.  In  the  latter  place,  it  was  a  subject  of  considerable  discus- 
sion among  the  savans  of  Paris.  The  judge  also  for  some  years  held 
the  office  of  probate  judge  in  Milwaukee,  under  the  territorial 
legislature.  He  came  to  Mdwaukee  in  the  spring  of  1836,  and  as 
chief  magistrate  was  called  upon  to  preside  as  judge  of  election  in 
the  following  fall,  and  though  a  young  man  at  the  time,  he  never- 
theless observed  that  of  the  six  hundred  votes  cast,  nine-tenths  of 
them  were  by  men  younger  than  himself,  which  showed  the  class 
of  immigration  that  was  then  coming  into  the  Territory.  He  could 
count  but  forty  roofs  in  the  then  infant  city  of  Milwaukee,  including 
barns  and  dwelling  houses. 


2U 


HISTORICAL    INTRODUCTION 


Justices  of  the  peace  were  permitted  to  assess  the  county  with  all 
the  fees  and  costs  connected  with  all  criminal  prosecutions,  until 
1843,  when  the  Board  of  Commissioners  ordered  that  no  fees  would 
be  allowed  by  the  county,  except  such  as  the  statutes  provided  for. 

The  first  woolen  mill  in  the  city  was  conducted  by  Allan  Dawson 
and  sons,  Scotchmen,  and  was  situated  at  the  end  of  Williamson 
street,  on  the  edge  of  the  Catfish,  block  237.  It  was  burned  to  the 
ground  about  1859.  ■ 

The  first  blacksmith  in  the  city  and  county,  excepting  Blue 
Mounds,  was  J.  T.  Wilson,  who  was  also  the  first  auctioneer. 

Wisconsin  is  becoming  famous  for  its  mineral  springs,  that  are 
becoming  much  frequented  by  those  suffering  from  clnonic  diseases, 
for  which  mineral  waters  are  found  to  be  an  excellent  specific.  The 
artesian  well  in  our  capitol  park  is  1,080  feet  deep,  and  the  mineral 
water  obtained  from  it  stands  high  for  its  curative  properties.  We 
give  the  following  comparison  as  analyzed  by  Prof.  Gustave  Bode, 
analytical  chemist  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  between  Waukesha,  Prairie 
du  Chien,  Sparta  and  Madison : 


Bicarbonate  of  Lime  — 
Bicarbonate  of  Magnesia 

Chloride  of  Sodium 

Sulphate  of  Soda 

Bicarbonate  of  Iron 

Silica 

Bicarbonate  of  Soda 

Total  grains 


GRAINS   PER  GALLON. 


Madison 


8.120 
6.937 
0.671 
1.68S 

0.555 
1.45G 
1.956 


81.233 


Prairie 
du  Ohien. 


0.6222 
10. 9739 
90.2007 
12.7978 

0.2318 
3  8430 
trace. 


IIS. 7694 


Wauke- 
sha. 


17.022 
12.368 
1.160 
0.042 
0  042 
0.741 
1.206 


32.603 


Sparta. 


0.4020 
4.0310 
0.1430 
2  2143 
14  3350 
0.2800 
0.2103 

21.6166 


Old  D4ne  County  Court  House. 


DANE   COUNTY  TOWNS. 


MEDINA. 

BY  FRANK  L.  MORRILL,  Esq. 

The  brief  space  allotted  to  us  in  this  work  will 
admit  of  but  a  meagre  sketch  of  the  general  outlines 
of  the  township,  together  with  a  hasty  review  of  some 
of  the  most  important  incidents  which  have  trans- 
pired within  its  borders.  At  its  close  we  shall  en- 
deavor to  take  a  glance  at  its  present  condition  and 
prospects,  and  the  inducements  here  offered  by  na- 
ture, as  utilized  and  developed  by  enterprise. 

Location. — Medina  is  one  of  the  eastern  tier  of 
towns  in  Dane  county.  It  is  designated  by  govern- 
ment survey  as  town  eight  (8),  range  twelve  (12)  east. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  town  of  York,  on 
the  east  by  the  town  of  Waterloo,  on  the  south  by 
the  town  of  Deerfield,  and  on  the  west  by  the  town 
of  Sun  Prairie.  The  town  is  abundantly  supplied 
with  water,  a  small  stream,  the  Indian  name  of  which 
is  "  Maunesha/'  now  called  Waterloo  creek,  passing 
entirely  through  it.     It  enters  the  township  at  the 


218  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MEDINA. 

northwest  corner  and  runs  nearly  parallel  with,  and 
in  no  place  more  than  two  miles  distant  from  the 
north  boundary  line.  All  of  the  opening  lands  were 
formerly  covered  with  a  moderate  growth  of  the  dif- 
ferent varieties  of  oak  natural  to  this  clime,  inter- 
spersed with  hickory,  ash  and  bass  wood.  The  general 
surface  of  the  township  is  level.  The  western  part 
contains  about  one  thousand  acres  of  handsome,  roll- 
ing prairie,  while  near  the  center  of  the  town,  the 
site  of  the  present  thriving  village  of  Marshall,  there 
are  about  five  hundred  acres  of  beautiful  u  prairie 
openings."  The  remainder  of  the  township  consists 
of  "  burr  oak  openings,"  interspersed  with  some  of 
the  finest  marsh  lands  in  the  state;  a  large  portion  of 
which,  by  means  of  draining  and  seeding,  have  been 
converted  into  highly  valuable  hay  land.  With  the 
exception  of  a  very  small  portion  of  poor  marsh  in 
the  southern  part,  there  is  scarcely  an  acre  of  waste 
land  in  the  town. 

The  soil,  with  the  exception  of  the  prairie,  is 
mostly  a  red  clay  loam,  and  equals  any  part  of  the 
state  in  the  production  of  wheat  and  other  cereals. 
It  was  here  that  the  celebrated  "  Judkins  wheat  " 
was  introduced  into  the  county,  by  B.  F.  Judkins, 
the  yield  of  which,  during  the  last  year  (1876),  ranged 
from  twelve  to  twenty-six  bushels  per  acre.  Among 
other  important  products  of  the  town,  we  might  men- 
tion hops,  tobacco  and  onions,  which  have  all  been 
successfully  raised  to  considerable  extent.  The  pres- 
ent population  of  the  township  numbers  about  fifteen 


DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS MEDINA.  219 

hundred;  the  most  populous  township,  with  one  ex- 
ception, in  the  county.  The  town  was  first  settled, 
principally,  by  Americans  from  the  states  of  New 
York,  Vermont  and  Pennsylvania,  together  with 
quite  a  number  of  English  families,  who  located  in 
the  southwestern  part.  In  1846,  the  Norwegians 
began  to  locate  in  the  town,  and  at  present  there  is  a 
large  settlement  of  them.  Of  those  who  came  in 
that  year,  but  two  families  now  remain,  those  of  Ole 
and  Halver  Aspinson.  About  1864-65,  the  Germans 
also  began  to  immigrate  and  settle  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  town,  and  now  constitute  about  one-fourth 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  entire  township.  Scattered 
throughout  the  town  are  a  few  Protestant  Irish. 

The  religious  character  of  the  town  is  one  of  its 
commending  virtues.  Nearly  one-half  of  the  whole 
population  of  the  town  are  members  of  some  reli- 
gious denomination.  Among  these  are  the  Episcopal 
Methodists,  who  are  a  strong  and  prosperous  body; 
the  Close  Communion  Baptists,  of  whom  there  are  a 
goodly  number;  a  large  number  cf  Free  Methodists; 
a  strong  church  of  German  Methodists;  while  the 
majority  of  the  Norwegians  are  connected  with  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

But  while  the  morals  of  the  people  are  thus  care- 
fully guarded,  the  educational  interests  of  the  town 
have  not  been  neglected.  There  is  probably  not  a 
town  in  the  state  which  can  boast  of  better  educa- 
tional advantages  than  Medina,  with  her  far  famed 
academy,  her  fine  public  school  buildings,  her  efri- 


220  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MEDINA. 

cient  corps  of  teachers,  and  the  excellent  attendance 
of  her  children  at  school.  The  town  is  divided  into 
ten  districts,  two  of  them  joint,  in  each  of  which 
there  is  a  comfortable  school  house,  amply  supplied 
with  all  the  modern  appliances  and  conveniences. 

The  town  contains  two  villages ;  Marshall,  the  oldest 
and  principal  one,  which  is  beautifully  situated  near 
the  center  of  the  town,  on  a  level  plateau,  on  the 
south  bank  of  Waterloo  creek;  it  contains  over  three 
hundred  inhabitants,  and  is  compactly  and  neatly 
built,  containing  many  tasty  white  brick  residences,  a 
fine  academy  building,  three  stories  high,  built  of 
white  Watertown  brick;  two  churches,  Methodist  and 
Baptist;  one  of  the  largest  town  halls  in  the  coun 
ty;  an  excellent  school  house,  built  of  white  brick; 
a  large  brick  hotel;  a  first  class  flouring  mill;  two 
wagon  and  carriage  shops;  several  stores;  two  harness 
shops;  two  boot  and  shoe  shops;  together  with  ware- 
houses and  depot  buildings,  lumber  yard,  cheese  fac- 
tory, livery  stables,  and  the  customary  saloon  accom- 
paniments. Deanville,  situated  one  and  a  half  miles 
west  of  Marshall,  is  a  neat  little  prairie  town  of  about 
one  hundred  inhabitants,  and  is  an  excellent  grain  mar- 
ket, being  the  center  of  a  large  and  fertile  wheat  pro- 
ducing district.  It  contains  some  very  tasty  resi- 
dences, warehouses,  lumber  yards,  one  store,  a  black- 
smith shop,  boot  and  shoe  shop,  etc. 

Early  History.  — The  first  land  entered  within  the 
limits  of  what  is  now  "Medina  Township,"  was  by 


DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  MEDINA.  221 

A.  A.  Bird,  Zeuas  Bird,  and  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Petrie,  all  of  whom  were  from  Little  Falls,  New  York. 

These  men  entered  into  the  following  mutual  con- 
tract: Zenas  H.  Bird,  the  younger  brother,  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land,  where  the  village  of  Marshall 
now  stands,  upon  which  he  was  to  erect  a  "  frame 
building  "  of  suitable  dimensions  for  a  public  house. 
In  consideration  of  his  erecting  this  house,  A.  A. 
Bird  and  Petrie  were  to  improve  the  water  power  in 
the  Maunesha  creek,  which  flowed  close  by,  and  build 
thereon  a  saw  mill,  which  they  were  to  have  com- 
pleted and  running  within  one  year.  This  was  in 
June,  1S37.  Zenas  Bird  went  on  and  erected  the 
public  house  according  to  contract.  Meanwhile  the 
other  j)arties  had  got  out  the  lumber  for  building 
the  mill,  and  had  drawn  the  most  of  it  upon  the 
ground  where  it  was  to  be  used.  Zenas  Bird  and  his 
"  hands  "  went  to  the  city  of  Madison  for  supplies, 
and  while  gone,  the  prairie  caught  fire  and  burned 
house,  lumber  and  all.  This  occurred  about  the  last  of 
October,  1839.  The  frame  of  the  house  was  not  en- 
tirely consumed,  but  remained  standing  until  1845, 
when  it  fell  to  the  ground,  from  which  event  the 
place  derived  the  name  of  Bird's  Ruins. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  in  the  town  was  in 
the  month  of  June,  1839,  on  section  seven.  This  was 
by  Yolney  Moore,  Eleazer  Moore  and  Henry  S.  Clark. 
They  immediately  began  the  erection  of  a  dwelling 
house,  and  on  the  3d  of  April,  1840,  they  moved  their 
families  from  Milwaukee  county  to  their  new  home. 


222  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  MEDINA. 

Although  so  early  in  the  season,  Mr.  Moore  says  the 
grass  was  then  "  knee  high  to  a  man."  Here,  in  their 
rude  dwelling,  they  lived  for  nearly  two  years  before 
another  family  came  into  the  town.  Mrs.  Moore  has 
been  heard  to  say,  that  "  for  one  year  and  a  half  after 
coming  here,  I  never  saw  the  face  of  a  white  woman 
except  my  own  daughter."  The  nearest  house  east 
was  at  Aztalan;  the  nearest  one  west  was  at  Madison. 
It  was  here,  in  1840,  the  first  child  was  born  in  the 
town,  William  Moore,  son  of  Voln'ey  Moore  and  wife; 
and  on  the  28th  day  of  December,  184:2,  the  first 
marriage  was  consummated  in  Medina,  at  the  house  of 
Yolney  Moore,  at  which  time  he  celebrated  the  wed- 
ding of  both  his  daughters,  the  eldest  to  Mr.  Charles 
Lawrence,  of  Token  Creek,  and  Sarah,  the  youngest, 
to  Mr.  H.  S.  Clark.  Some  years  later  Mr.  Moore 
moved  to  Baraboo,  Sauk  county,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. In  1845,  H.  S.  Clark  and  wife  were  baptized, 
and  united  with  the  "Free  Will  Baptist  Church,"  and 
in  1849  he  went  to  California,  but  returned  in  1852. 
His  wife  died  in  1855,  leaving  four  children.  In  1857, 
he  married  a  second  time,  to  Miss  Maria  Lane.  He 
died  January  5,  1875,  having  always  been  a  prominent 
man  in  the  town,  and  having  occupied  many  positions 
of  trust  and  honor.  Eleazer  Moore  started  for  Cali- 
fornia in  1852,  but  while  crossing  the  plains,  was  ac- 
cidentally shot  by  a  brother-in-law.  In  the  years  of 
1842-3,  seven  other  families  moved  into  the  town, 
three  of  them  settling  in  the  eastern  and  four  in  the 
western  partf  in  the  vicinity  of  Yolney  Moore's  resi- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MEDINA.  223 

clence,  one  of  which  was  Charles  "Wakeman.  Thus, 
in  the  spring  of  1844,  the  town  contained  but  eight 
families  —  three  in  the  east  and  five  in  the  west  part. 
There  was  but  one  road  established,  known  as  the  Sun 
Prairie  and  Lake  Mills  road.  Among:  the  more 
prominent  ones  who  moved  to  Medina  this  year  were 
Moses  Page,  Martin  Bostwick,  Daniel  S.  Cross,  Judge 
Reuben  Smith,  Sardine  Muzzy,  Willard  Cole,  Peter 
Sifort  and  Asa  Cross.  The  first  attempt  at  political  . 
organization  occurred  during  this  year.  It  consisted 
of  the  uniting  of  three  towns  in  what  was  called  the 
"Waterloo  Precinct,  and  on  the  22d  of  September, 
1844,  the  people  held  a  town  meeting  at  the  house  of 
Reuben  Smith,  at  which  election  forty-one  votes  were 
cast,  George  B.  Smith,  of  Madison,  acting  as  one  of 
the  clerks.  The  second  election  was  by  four  towns, 
under  the  name  of  Sun  Prairie  Precinct.  This  was 
held  in  the  western  part  of  Medina,  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Peckham,  and  a  third  meeting  (special)  called  at 
Moore's  school  house,  on  section  ei^ht,  a  loo-  building 
which  had  been  erected  in  1844,  and  at  which  place 
the  precinct  elections  were  held  for  a  number  of  years. 
The  first  religious  society  of  Medina  was  organ- 
ized by  Elder  Moffat,  of  the  Free  Will  Baptists,  in  the 
log  school-house,  on  section  eight,  in  1845.  The  pro- 
perty of  Mr.  Zenas  Bird,  consisting  of  six  eighties  of 
land,  passed  into  the  hands  of  John  Douglas,  who 
began  what  is  now  the  flourishing  village  of  Marshall, 
by  setting  up  the  old  tumbled-down  frame,  and  con- 
structing  a  dwelling  house   containing   two   rooms. 


22-t  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  MEDINA. 

During  this  year  lie  also  commenced  building  a  saw 
mill,  which  was  not  completed,  however,  until  1847, 
when  it  Was  finished  by  a  Mr.  Seely,  the  first  phy- 
sician who  settled  in  Medina.  The  town  settled  up 
rapidly  during  1845.  Among  others  who  came  during 
this  year  were,  Louis  Stone,  John  T.  White,  from 
London,  England,  and  Charles  Lum;  A.  J.  Allen, 
John  Tracy,  M.  D.  Currier,  Thomas  Hart,  Jr.,  and 
others  from  Medina,  Ohio. 

The  first  religious  meeting  held  at  Bird's  Ruins, 
was  in  1845,  at  the  house  of  John  Douglas.  The  ser- 
mon (one  of  Whitfield's)  was  read  by  George  B. 
Smith,  now  of  Madison,  from  a  book  loaned  by  Thos. 
Hart.  In  the  spring  of  1845,  G.  W.  Day  established 
a  store  in  one  room  of  John  Douglas'  house,  and 
brought  the  first  barrel  'of  whisky  into  the  town,  and 
it  is  reported  that  as  he  drew  one  gallon  of  whisky 
from  the  faucet,  the  stock  was  replenished  by  turning 
in  a  gallon  of  water  at  the  bung;  and  the  result  was, 
that  when  cold  weather  came,  the  contents  of  the 
barrel  froze  up  solid,  and  whisky  drinking  was  sus- 
pended during  the  winter.  Judge  Reuben  Smith,  an 
active  temperance  worker,  taking  advantage  of  this 
circumstance,  organized  a  Washingtonian  Society; 
but  when  the  barrel  thawed  out  in  the  spring,  many 
of  the  members  violated  their  pledge,  and  the  lodge 
soon  went  down. 

The  first  school  at  Bird's  Ruins  was  taught  during 
the  summer  by  Susan  Tracy,  in  Judge  Smith's  house. 
Some  time  in  the   spring,  Martin  Mead  buried  his 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MEDINA.  225 

wife,  the  first  death  which  occurred  in  the  township 
in  1846.  Among  other  incidents  of  note,  during  this 
year,  we  might  mention  the  construction  of  the  first 
mill  dam.    The  first  church  organization  in  the  village 

CD  ™ 

was  established  under  the  auspices  of  the  Close  Com- 
munion Baptists.  During  the  winter  of  1846  and 
1847,  they  held  their  first  protracted  meeting,  con- 
ducted by  Elder  Green,  at  the  house  of  William  Par- 
sons, in  Bird's  Ruins.  A  large  revival  followed,  and 
the  excitement  being  so  great,  they  baptized  at  mid- 
night by  moonlight.  Immediately  following  this,  the 
Methodists  organized,  and  held  a  protracted  meeting 
at  the  house  of  Judge  Smith,  at  that  time  occupied  by 
a  Mr.  Shepherd.  Their  efforts,  however,  met  with 
poor  success. 

The  first  wedding  in  the  village  occurred  in  Januarv 

CD  CD  *s 

of  1847:  Mr.  Dorman  Mead  to  Mrs.  Catharine  Doug- 
las; and  both  are  still  living  in  Jefferson  county,  about 
eight  miles  from  where  they  were  married,  a  hale  and 
genial  old  couple,  loved  and  respected  by  all  who 
know  them. 

Among  others  who  settled  in  Medina,  in  the  year 
of  1846,  were,  Louis  Morrill,  Jesse  M.  Smith,  Silas 
Mory,  Thomas  Hart,  Sen.,  Joseph  Hart,  C.  T.  Weeks, 
George  Lewellen,  and  others.  Among  those  who  came 
in  1847  were  W.  E.  Persons,  A.  M.  Hanchett,  and 
Urbane  Parsons.  Mr.  Hanchett  purchased  the  pro- 
perty of  John  Douglas,  and  established  a  store  at 
Bird's  Iiuins.     Up  to  this  time,  the  nearest  accessible 

postoffice  was  at  Lake  Mills,  about  ten  miles  distant, 
15 


226  DANE   COUNTY    TOWNS  —  MEDINA. 

from  which  place  the  mail  was  occasionally  carried  by 
passing  teams,  but  usually  on  foot,  by  Mr.  Urbane 
Parsons,  this  being  the  swiftest  mode  of  conveyance, 
as  the  only  teams  possessed  by  the  settlers  were  oxen. 
Being  thus  brought  to  realize  the  necessities  of  the 
times,  Mr.  Parsons  personally  circulated  a  petition, 
which  eventually  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  a 
post  office  at  Bird's  Ruins,  and  A.  M.  Ilanchett 
was  made  the  first  postmaster. 

Early  in  the  year  of  1S48,  the  legislature  of  the 
state  of  Wisconsin  passed  a  resolution,  that  the  town- 
ship be  organized  into  a  separate  town,  by  the  name 
of  "Medina;"  the  first  town  meeting  to  be  held  at 
Bird's  Ruins.  The  first  meeting  was  accordingly 
held  on  the  4th  day  of  April,  of  the  same  year,  in  the 
house  of  Louis  Morrill,  at  which  time,  the  following 
officers  were  elected  (Louis  Stone,  William  II.  Mun- 
ger,  and  Gideon  Ormsby,  acting  as  judges):  Charles 
Lum,  William  C.  Rood,  and  II.  S.  Clark,  supervisors 
of  the  town;  Urbane  Parsons,  town  clerk;  Aaron  H. 
Pinney,  treasurer;  Martin  King,  W.  E.  Persons,  and 
D.  K.  Hunger,  commissioners  of  highways;  S.  Y.  R. 
Shepherd,  tax  collector;  O.  W.  Thornton,  M.  D.  Cur- 
rier, Charles  Rickerson,  school  commissioners;  O.  W. 
Thornton,  W.  E.  Persons,  and  D.  S.  Cross,  justices  of 
the  peace;  S.  Y.  R.  Shepherd,  and  Nathaniel  Lar- 
rabee,  constables;  Sardine  Muzzy,  Yolney  Moore, 
Aaron  Pinney,  assessors;  Jacob  Miller,  Moses  Page, 
W.  II.  Hunger,  fence  viewers;  A.  M.  Ilanchett, 
Nathan  Brown,  C.  T.  Weeks,  John  Luke,  and  David 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MEDINA.  227 

Ormsby,  overseers  of  roads  in  their  respective  dis- 
tricts. At  said  meeting,  the  pay  of  town  officers  was 
fixed  at  one  dollar  per  day,  for  actual  service  rendered. 
There  is  no  record  of  the  number  of  votes  cast  at  this 
election;  but  at  the  next  one,  there  were  eighty-three. 

In  1849,  there  was  a  good,  substantial  school  house 
erected  at  Bird's  Ruins.  It  was  built  of  red  brick, 
and  comfortably  seated  for  the  accommodation  of 
about  seventy  scholars,  and  paid  for  by  a  tax  on  the 
district,  which  at  that  time  comprised  about  one-half 
of  the  township.  About  this  time  the  village  received 
the  name  of  Hanchettville. 

In  1847,  a  lodge  of  Sons  of  Temperance  was  organ- 
ized by  Geo.  B.  Smith  and  Judge  Knapp,  from  Mad- 
ison. It  remained  in  existence  for  about  one-and-a- 
half  years,  with  variable  success,  and  then  passed 
away.  In  1849,  an  Odd  Fellows'  lodge  was  organized 
in  the  brick  school  house  at  Hanchettville,  but  for 
some  reason  was  sustained  but  a  short  time.  It 
might,  perhaps,  be  interesting  to  the  reader  to  men- 
tion some  of  the  inconveniences  which  were  experi- 
enced by  the  early  settlers  in  this  locality.  There 
were  no  roads  in  the  town,  with  the  exception  of  a 
wagon  track  cleared  through  the  timber.  And  when 
we  say  "  cleared,"  we  do  not  use  the  term  with  its 
modern  significance,  for  the  road  still  bristled  with 
stumps,  and  the  wagons,  as  they  rolled  slowly  along, 
tumbled  over  huge  rocks,  which  had  never  been 
moved  from  their  resting  places.  There  were  no 
bridges  over  the  streams,  and  the  routes  were  often 


228  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS MEDINA. 

lengthened  in  reaching  a  practicable  fording  place, 
while  over  some  of  the  low  and  otherwise  impassible 
places,  they  had  constructed  the  time  honored  "  cor- 
duroy," so  well  known  and  much  used  in  all  new 
timber  districts.  Over  such  roads,  by  means  of  ox 
teams,  the  settlers  were  obliged  to  draw  their  pro- 
ducts to  Milwaukee  to  market,  some  seventy  miles 
distant,  while  their  groceries  and  other  necessary  arti- 
cles of  merchandise  had  to  be  transported  back  by  the 
same  tedious  method.  For  many  years  there  was  no 
blacksmith  shop  nearer  than  Lake  Mills,  ten  miles 
east  of  Bird's  Ruins,  and  the  settlers  used  to  put  their 
log  chains  into  a  bag,  and  slinging  it  upon  their  back, 
carry  them  over  the  rough  and  muddy  roads  to  that 
place  to  get  them  mended.  H.  S.  Clark  has  been 
known  to  take  the  "  shear "  of  his  breaking  plow 
upon  his  shoulders  (and  none  but  those  who  have  seen 
one  of  the  primitive  breaking  plows  used  in  those 
times  can  appreciate  this  feat),  and  carry  it  to  Madi- 
son, nearly  twenty  miles  distant,  get  it  sharpened, 
and  return  with  it  the  same  day.  The  first  anvil  and 
pair  of  bellows  were  brought  into  the  town  by  Louis 
Stone,  and  the  first  blacksmith  shop  was  opened  by 
his  nephew,  Jesse  Stone  and  J.  Thompson,  under  a 
large  burr  oak  in  Bird's  Ruins,  where  they  held  forth 
for  some  time  in  the  open  air. 

The  nearest  grist  mill  was  at  Lake  Mills,  and  in  the 
muddy  season,  when  the  road  was  impassible  for 
teams,  the  settlers,  in  cases  of  necessity,  would  take 
some  corn  in  a  bag,  carry  it  on  foot  to  the  mill,  get 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MEDINA.  229 

it  ground,  and  bring  back  the  meal.  There  are  per- 
sons still  living  in  the  village  of  Marshall,  who  can 
well  remember  when  the  unvarying  bill  of  fare  was 
Johnny  cake  for  breakfast,  Johnny  cake  for  dinner, 
and  Johnny  cake  for  supper,  with  its  usual  concomi- 
tant, "  Wisconsin  gravy."  This  was  manufactured 
by  taking  a  little  flour  or  meal  and  stirring  it  in 
water,  making  a  thin  paste,  which  they  spread  on  the 
corn  bread.  As  civilization  advanced,  however,  and 
times  became  more  prosperous,  some  enterprising 
Yankee  introduced  sweetening  into  the  locality  in  the 
form  of  cheap  molasses,  and  then  the  better  classes  in- 
dulged in  sweet  corn  bread  once  a  week  (Sundays). 
This  was  considered  a  luxury  indeed,  and  was  eaten 
with  great  relish,  without  sauce  or  gravy,  butter  being 
a  "minus  quantity"  in  those  days. 

As  soon  as  the  settlers  could  get  a  piece  of  land 
broken  up,  and  procure  seed  with  which  to  sow  it, 
they  raised  excellent  crops  of  winter  wheat,  rang- 
ing from  thirty-five  to  forty  bushels  per  acre;  but 
on  account  of-  their  restricted  market  advantages  for 
a  great  many  years,  they  realized  only  an  insignifi- 
cant price  for  their  produce,  barely  sufficient  to  pay 
their  taxes  and  purchase  a  few  necessary  articles  of 
wearing  apparel,  together  with  their  indispensable 
farming  implements. 

In  1852,  Charles  Wakeman  purchased  a  wagon  for 
$90,  and  sold  No.  1  winter  wheat  at  thirty  cents  per 
bushel  to  pay  for  it.  In  1852,  A.  M.  Hanchett 
erected  the  first  grist  mill  at  Bird's  Ruins.     He  also 


230  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  MEDINA. 

built  a  new  mill  dam,  about  twenty  rods  below  the 
old  one,  and  moved  the  saw  mill  down  along  side  of 
the  grist  mill.  The  saw  mill,  after  having  accom- 
plished its  mission  of  converting  thousands  of  feet  of 
the  primitive  oaks  into  lumber,  to  the  incalculable 
benefit  of  the  early  settlers,  at  last  rotted  and  fell  to 
the  ground,  the  necessity  for  its  labors  being  super- 
seded by  the  increasing  facilities  of  transportation, 
which  enabled  the  people  to  procure  pine  lumber 
from  the  northern  part  of  the  state.  The  grist 
mill  still  stands  upon  its  original  site,  and  having 
been  repeatedly  remodeled  and  improved,  is  now 
known  as  the  far  famed  flouring  mill  of  Porter  & 
Marshall. 

In  1852  and  '53,  a  plankroad  was  projected  and 
built  from  Watertown  to  Hanchettville.  The  opening 
up  of  this  great  thoroughfare,  connecting,  as  it  were, 
this  seemingly  isolated  district  with  the  great  busi- 
ness world,  resulted  in  untold  benefit  and  advantage 
to  the  settlers;  and  for  many  years  the  little  villages 
which  sprung  up,  as  if  by  magic,  along  its  line,  were 
the  scenes  of  bustling  activity  and  lively  enterprise. 
In  1853,  the  typhoid  fever  raged  with  great  fatality 
throughout  the  town.  Dr.  H.  H.  Beebe,  who  had 
previously  resided  at  Peckham's  Corners,  moved  into 
Hanchettville,  and  although  a  young  man,  distin- 
guished himself  in  treating  this  class  of  diseases,  and 
gaining  a  reputation  which  time  has  fully  sustained. 
He  still  continues  to  practice  in  the  place,  having  by 
years  of  assiduous  toil  won  the  confidence  and  esteem 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS — 'MEDINA.  231 

of  the  entire  people,  and  an  enviable  reputation  as  a 
physician. 

In  1856,  the  proposition  of  building  a  railroad  from 
"Watertown  to  Madison  was  agitated;  about  one-half 
of  the  inhabitants  were  in  favor  of  saddling  the  town 
with  a  debt  of  $25,000  for  the  purpose  of  assisting 
the  project,  while  the  remainder  were  opposed.  A 
special  town  meeting  was  called,  and  the  railroad  ad- 
vocates were  defeated  by  two  votes.  In  1859,  how- 
ever,  the  Madison,  Watertown  and  St.  Paul  Company 
succeeded  in  acquiring  the  requisite  amount  of 
"Pledges,"  and  constructed  what  is  known  as  the 
"  Madison  Branch  Boad,"  locating  a  depot  at  Han- 
chettville  and  another  at  Deanville.  Property  holders 
anticipated  great  results  from  the  effect  of  this  road, 
in  enhancing  the  value  of  property  and  building  up 
the  village  of  Hanchettville,  and  the  unpretending 
name  of  Hanchettville  gave  way  to  the  name  of 
Howard  City,  in  honor  of  one  of  the  railroad  con- 
tractors. But  these  anticipations  were  not  realized, 
but  on  the  contrary,  actual  adversity  superseded  the 
expected  prosperity,  and  Mr.  Hanchett  was  obliged 
to  dispose  of  his  vast  property  to  Messrs.  Porter  and 
Marshall,  who  again  changed  the  name  of  the  village, 
this  time  christening  it  "  Marshall,"  which  title  it 
retains  at  the  present  day. 

While  passing  along  down  through  the  course  of 
years,  we  would  not  forget  to  mention  some  of  those 
who  immortalized  their  names  in  the  great  war  of  the 
rebellion.     Of   the  seventy  or  eighty  from    Medina 


232  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MEDINA. 

who  responded  to  our  country's  call  for  volunteers, 
at  least  twenty-one  never  returned.  The  first  com- 
pany organized  in  the  town  was  by  Capt.  Brad- 
ford Hancock.  Among  the  killed  from  the  town  we 
mention:  Aaron  Twining,  Silas  Hatfield,  Peter  Lusk, 
Daniel  Norton,  Edwin  Hancock,  Hiram  Miller,  Wil- 
liam Berge,  A.  Wilsey,  Carl  Kappin,  Charles  Mat- 
thews, Isaac  Warren,  John  Cruger,  Charles  Wendt, 
Hiram  Smith,  Lucius  Gregg,  DelbertLee,  Wm.  King, 
Charles  Lintner,  John  Agnew,  Charles  Calkins,  But- 
ler, Merrey,  Kinney  and  Hays.  The  town  also  sus- 
tained one  draft,  by  which  fourteen  were  impressed. 
Among  the  early  pioneers  of  Medina,  whose  lives  are 
intimately  connected  with  the  history  of  the  town, 
but  few  now  remain.  A  few  have  moved  away,  seek- 
ing to  better  their  temporal  condition  by  a  change  of 
locality;  some  of  whom  are  lost  to  the  knowledge, 
but  not  to  the  remembrance,  of  those  who  remain; 
others  we  have  succeeded  in  tracing  to  their  present 
places  of  abode,  in  different  parts  of  our  own  and 
other  states.  But  the  marble  monuments  in  the 
beautiful  little  cemetery  just  outside  the  village  of 
Marshall  marks  the  resting  place  of  the  larger  portion 
of  them.  There  are  but  two  of  the  old  settlers  left  in 
Marshall — Urbane  Parsons,  aged  76,  and  his  wife, 
aged  82.  Among  those  who  still  reside  in  the  town 
are,  wife  of  Asa  Cross,  aged  90;  Charles  Wakeman, 
75;  Stephen  Mory,  82 ;  Mrs.  Agnew,  83;  Mrs.  Knap- 
ton,  76;  Charles  Lum,  70;  Dean  Chase,  80;  Anson 
Warner,  75;    Geo.  Bashford,   84,  and  his  wife,  75. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MEDINA.  238 

Among  those  whose  ages  are  unknown  to  the  writer 
are,  Sardine  Muzzy,  Geo.  Lewellen,  Willard  Oole,  C. 
T.  Weeks,  Joseph  Wilt,  Willard  Weeks,  Asa  Dewey, 

D.  S.  Cross,  O.  W.  Thornton,  Joseph  Hart,  Andrew 
Betts,  Stephen  Jones,  Thos.  Hart,  H.  H.  Beebe,  Silas 
Morey,  Jacob  Miller,  Jesse  Smith,  W.  K.  Parsons,  T. 
B.  Wakeman,  James  Wakeman,  Wm.  Knapton,  W. 

E.  Persons,  Thomas  Fallows,  and  Ole  and  Halver 
Osbbrnson.  Of  those  who  are  dead,  we  would  men- 
tion, Moses  Page,  aged  87;  Asa  Cross,  90;  Samuel 
Smith,  84;  Keuben  Smith,  80;  Louis  Morrill,  73. 

Coming  down  to  the  present  time,  we  would  call 
attention  to  those,  to  whose  enterprise  and  zeal  the 
village  of  Marshall  is  indebted  for  its  present  pros- 
perous condition.  Among  the  live  men  of  the  place 
we  must  mention  William  H.  Porter,  the  proprietor 
of  the  flouring  mill,  which  he  is  having  repaired  and 
remodeled  at  an  expense  of  from  five  to  six  thousand 
dollars;  he  is  resolved  to  make  it  one  of  the  first 
mills  in  the  country.  To  this  end  he  is  furnishing  it 
with  steam  power,  in  addition  to  the  excellent  natural 
water  power  upon  which  he  has  hitherto  depended, 
and  is  now  prepared  to  do  all  kinds  of  custom  work 
and  manufacture  all  the  modern  brands  of  flour. 
Samuel  Blascoer,  an  old  and  respected  merchant,  sup- 
plies the  surrounding  community  with  goods,  from 
the  largest  and  best  assorted  stock  of  merchandise  to 
be  found  between  Watertown  and  Madison ;  his  an- 
nual sales  amounting-  to  from  thirty  to  forty  thousand 


284  DANE    COUNTS    TOWNS MEDINA. 

dollars.  K.  W.  Jargo,  druggist,  keeps  constantly  on 
hand  a  large  assortment  of  drugs  and  medicines,  toi- 
let and  fancy  articles,  glass,  paints,  oils,  and  a  general 
stock  of  groceries.  John  Lindsay,  dealer  in  boots, 
shoes  and  harness,  a  large  portion  of  which  are  home 
manufactures.  Herman  Glagow,  dealer  in  heavy  and 
shelf  hardware  and  stoves,  and  manufacturer  of  all 
kinds  of  tinware.  Cramer  &  Co.,  dry  goods  and 
groceries;  location  near  the  depot.  Peter  Yan  Loan, 
wagon  and  carriage  shop.  J.  O.  Nordell,  harness 
shop.  John  Sanders,  boots  and  shoes.  William 
Pickard,  grain  buyer.  C.  E.  Bell,  furniture  and  re- 
pair shop.  E.  J.  McPherson,  blacksmith  shop.  Geo. 
E.  Allen,  livery  stable.  Mr.  Allen  is  also  one  of  the 
best  veterinary  surgeons  in  the  state,  and  has  a  large 
barn  arranged  into  an  infirmary,  where  he  is  prepared 
to  treat  the  worst  of  cases. 

As  before  mentioned,  Marshall  contains  one  of  the 
finest  academies  in  the  state.  It  was  erected  in  1866, 
at  a  cost  of  $14,000.  It  was  built  by  a  joint  stock 
company,  but  the  credit  of  the  successful  and  speedy 
consummation  of  the  project  is  due,  in  a  great  meas- 
ure, to  the  enterprise  and  energy  of  E.  B.  Bigelow. 
The  Methodist  church  erected  in  1869,  at  a  cost  of 
three  thousand  dollars,  is  a  fine  wooden  building,  and 
was  dedicated  in  February,  1869,  by  Rev.  Samuel  Fal- 
lows. The  Baptist  church,  a  fine  brick  edifice,  was 
built  the  same  year,  and  was  dedicated  February  17, 
1869,  by  Rev.  O.  G.  Hoge;  its  cost  being  a  trifle  over 
three  thousand  dollars.     We  would    not  forget  the 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MEDINA.  285 

German  Methodist  church,  about  one  and  a  half  miles 
south  of  Marshall,  a  neat  little  building,  erected  in 
1S76,  at  a  cost  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars. 

Marshall  Academy  was  opened  January  7,  1867, 
with  J.  J.  Mclntire,  principal,  and  Mary  A.  Cuckoo, 
preceptress,  under  the  supervision  of  the  following 
board  of  directors:  Joseph  Hart,  president;  W.  11. 
Porter,  treasurer;  E.  B.  Bigelow,  secretary;  Louis 
Morrill,  Samuel  Blascoer,  Thomas  Hart,  Torga  Ole- 
son,  Jacob  Miller  and  Samuel  Fields.  In  1869,  the 
building  was  purchased  by  the  Augustine  Synod  of 
Lutherans,  and  formally  dedicated  to  their  use  in  No- 
vember of  the  same  year,  with  J.  J.  Anderson  as 
principal  of  the  Academic  department,  and  Prof. 
Weinass,  of  the  Theological  Seminary.  It  is  now 
under  the  supervision  of  Prof.  Henry  Dorman,  with 
F.  W.  Huntington,  Teacher  of  Languages. 

The  town  is  now  entirely  out  of  debt,  and  prosper- 
ing under  the  management  of  the  following  officers: 

Board  of  Supervisors — William  II.  Porter,  Chair- 
man, P.  W.  Agnew  and  E.  Zimbrich.  Town  Clerk — 
Henry  Dorman.  Treasurer — David  Hames.  As- 
sessor —  I.  C.  Knapton. 

William  H.  Porter,  Postmaster,  has  had  the  man- 
agement of  the  office  for  many  years.  George  H. 
Norton,  resident  attorney-at-law.  H.  H.  Beebe,  prac- 
ticing physician. 


236  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  BLUE   MOUNDS. 


BLUE  MOUNDS. 

BY  JOHN  C.  WARD  AND  IRA  ISHAM. 

The  town  of  Blue  Mounds  is  situated  in  the  south- 
western part  of  Dane  county;  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Vermont,  east  by  Springdale,  south  by 
Perry,  and  west  by  Ridgeway,  in  Iowa  connty.  Two- 
thirds  of  the  town  is  rolling  prairie,  and  the  balance 
good  timber,  with  now  and  then  a  fine  grove  on  the 
prairie.  The  soil  is  rich,  a  good  farming  country, 
and  well  watered. 

This  town  was  settled  first  by  Ebenezer  Brigham 
in  1826,  on  section  6.  In  1828  he  struck  what  has 
since  been  called  the  Brigham  lead,  on  section  7,  and 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  pounds  of  lead  ore  have  been 
taken  out  of  it.  There  are  a  great  many  other  dig- 
gings in  the  town,  but  this  one  is  the  largest;  and 
though  some  of  them  are  worked  until  this  day,  the 
last  mentioned  has  yielded  about  10,000  tons. 

A  fort  was  erected  here  in  1832,  on  section  7,  called 
the  Blue  Mounds  fort,  for  the  protection  of  the  min- 
ers and  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  country.  In 
1831  or  1832,  Mr.  Brigham  had  occasion  to  send  two 
men  to  his  residence  on  section  6,  to  repair  some 
fences,  when  a  number  of  Indians,  who  lay  in  ambush, 
rose  up  and  fired  on  them,  killing  one  and  then  captur- 
ing both  of  their  horses;   the  other  man  made  his 


"DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLUE    MOUNDS.  237 

escape  to  the  fort,  about  a  mile  distant.  It  was  also 
about  this  time  that  Lieut.  Force  and  Capt. 
Green  of  the  fort  (the  latter 's  family  residing  in  the 
fort),  rode  out  about  two  miles  in  a  northeast  direc- 
tion on  to  the  Madison  and  Mineral  Point  road, 
on  section  9,  and  were  attacked  by  Indians  that 
lay  in  ambush  among  some  hazel  brush.  Firing 
on  them,  they  killed  Lieutenant  Force  dead  and 
wounded  Captain  Green  in  the  arm,  breaking  it; 
he  undertook  to  make  his  escape  to  the  fort  on 
horseback,  but  the  Indians  being  also  mounted,  and 
being  in  large  numbers,  succeeded  in  surrounding 
him  in  a  grove  on  section  16,  where  they  killed  and 
scalped  him.  Their  bodies  lay  on  the  ground  for 
about  three  days,  until  Gen.  Dodge,  from  Dodgeville, 
came  out  with  the  rangers  or  volunteers  and  buried 
them  just  where  they  were  killed.  Their  remains 
were  afterwards  taken  up  and  buried  near  the  fort. 

Nothing  of  importance  occurred  from  this  time  till 
1844  to  1845.  The  permanent  settlers  of  the  town 
in  the  spring  of  1845  were,  Ebenezer  Brigham, 
Jeremiah  Lycan,  Edward  Dale,  Ira  Isham,  William 
Kowe,  and  John  Rowe.  In  1846,  two  or  three  Nor- 
wegian families  settled  in  the  town,  and  quite  a 
number  of  Americans.  John  Rider  and  a  number 
of  others  came  in  1847  and  1848.  The  first  town 
meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Ira  Isham,  and  the 
following  officers  elected  :  Stipervisors — Ebenezer 
Brigham,  chairman;  Thomas  Heaney  and  Thomas 
Steele;    Clerk  —  A.    S.    Needham;    Assessor  —  John 


238  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  BLUE   MOUNDS. 

Sample;  Treasurer  —  Edward  Dale;  Collector  —  Jere- 
miah Lycan;  School  Commissioners  —  Granville  I. 
Neale,  Win.  Howe,  David  Smith,  Ebenezer  Brigham, 
Edward  Dale  and  Thomas  Steele. 

Game,  such  as  deer,  wolves,  bears,  prairie  chickens, 
partridges,  quails,  etc.,  were  abundant  in  those  days. 
In  the  spring  of  the  year  it  was  nothing  uncommon  to 
see  from  twenty  to  thirty  deer  in  a  drove,  and  thou- 
sands of  prairie  chickens,  partridges  and  quails,  could 
be  shot  quite  easy  from  a  wagon.  The  wolves  were 
also  plenty,  but  very  shy,  seldom  ever  seen  in  the 
day  time,  and  did  not  attempt  to  attack  any  human 
beings. 

Three-fourths  of  the  population  at  the  present 
time  are  Norwegians,  who  are  an  industrious  people 
and  good  citizens;  the  others  are  Germans,  Irish, 
English  and  Americans.  From  1845  till  the  railroad 
passed  through  Madison  going  west,  there  was  a  daily 
mail  through  here,  and  sometimes  as  many  as  four  extra 
stages,  all  four-horse.  There  was  a  post  office  in  this 
town  as  early  as  1828,  called  the  Blue  Mounds  post 
office.  There  is  no  East  Blue  Mounds  post  office,  as 
sometimes  by  mistake  it  is  called.  There  is  a  West 
Blue  Mounds  in  Iowa  county,  and  a  post  office  in  this 
town  called  Mount  Horeb,  making  two  post  offices. 
"We  have  four  whole,  and  two  joint  school  districts, 
and  also  good  school  houses.  The  first  school  district 
number  one  was  established  in  1816,  on  section  10, 
on  the  Madison  and  Mineral  Point  road.  There  are 
four   churches,  one  Method' st   Episcopal,  one   Ger- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLUE   MOUNDS.  239 

man  Methodist,  one  Norwegian  Lutheran,  and  one 
German  Lutheran;  they  are  all  well  attended.  "We 
have  no  saloons  in  the  town,  and  never  granted 
licenses  but  once  or  twice,  and  then  the  whole  time 
the  saloon  was  kept  was  about  three  years. 

At  Blue  Mounds  F.  Brackenwagon  is  postmoster, 
and  keeps  a  store  with  a  general  stock  of  merchan- 
dise suitable  for  a  country  trade.  At  Mount  Horeb 
O.  C.  Nubson  is  also  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness and  keeps  a  suitable  stock  of  goods.  F.  J.  Field 
and  Samuel  Thompson  are  the  blacksmiths;  Paul 
A.  Sletto,  shoemaker;  Andrew  E.  Thompson,  capen- 
ter;  while  Dr.  P.  A.  Flaten  is  the  physician,  with  a 
good  practice. 

[The  following  communication,  sent  us  at  our  spe- 
cial request  by  J.  R.  Brigham,  of  Milwaukee,  nephew 
of  the  patriarch  pioneer,  Ebenezer  Brigham,  will  be 
read  by  our  readers  with  unusual  interest.  We  re- 
gret the  brevity  of  it,  but  nevertheless  feel  deeply 
obligated  to  him  for  his  hasty  sketch  of  the  times 
and  events  that  surrounded  historic  "  Smoky  Mts.," 
and  a  just  pride  in  reflecting  that  the  history  of  Dane 
county's  first  pioneer  belongs  to  the  whole  State, 
and  every  stone  placed  in  the  structure  is  tending  to 
the  repleteness  of  the  whole  fabric] 

Blue  Mounds  was  created  a  political  town  by  an  act  passed  at  the 
last  session  of  the  territorial  legislature,  approved  March  11,  1848, 
the  same  year  that  Wisconsin  became  a  state.  The  act  provides 
that  "  so  much  of  range  six  as  is  embraced  in  towns  six  and  seven, 
in  Dane  county,  is  organized  in  a  separate  town,  by  the  name  of 
Blue  Mounds,  and  the  first  town  meeting  shall  be  held  at  the  house 
of  Ira  Isham."     Mr.  Isham,  who  is  still  living  on  his  fine  farm  hi 


240  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS — BLUE   MOUNDS. 

the  same  town,  a  hale  and  hearty  fanner,  lived  at  that  time  in 
what  was  then  and  still  is  known  as  the  "Brigham  Place,"  where 
he  kept  puhlic  house  for  the  accommodation  of  travelers,  who  at 
that  day  were  numerous.  In  earlier  times,  and  before  the  day  of 
railroads  in  Wisconsin,  the  Blue  Mounds  road  was  one  of  the  chief 
thoroughfares  of  the  territory.  The  natural  dividing  ridge,  which 
extends  from  near  Madison  almost  due  west  to  the  Mississippi  river, 
and  separates  the  waters  running  northerly  to  the  Wisconsin  from 
those  running  in  the  opposite  direction,  finding  their  way  to  the 
Mississippi  south  of  the  Wisconsin  boundary,  passed  close  by  the 
house.  Along  the  natural  grade  of  this  dividing  ridge  was  estab- 
lished the  military  road  from  Fort  Winnebago  (now  Portage)  to 
Fort  Crawford  (now  Prairie  du  Chien).  This  was  probably  the  first 
wagon  road  maintained  within  the  limits  of  Wisconsin  At  the 
date  of  the  organization  of  the  town,  it  was  the  stage  route  from 
Lake  Michigan  to  the  Mississippi  river.  The  four-horse  coaches  of 
the  United  States  mail,  with  nine  passengers  inside  and  more  on 
top,  passed  each  way  daily.  The  old  stage  coach,  now  almost  for- 
gotten, was  then  in  its  glory.  The  driver's  box  was  a  throne,  and 
the  stage  driver  was  a  monarch.  Among  the  best  known  of  the 
good  drivers  of  that  day  was  Andrew  Bishop,  "The  Elder,"  as  he 
was  respectfully  termed  by  his  brethren  of  the  four-in-hand.  Since 
that  time,  Mr.  Bishop  has  acceptably  filled  the  important  offices  of 
sheriff  of  Dane  county  and  chief  of  police  of  the  city  of  Madison, 
which  last  position  he  holds  at  the  present  time;  but  he  can  scarcely 
be  a  more  important  character,  or  better  or  more  widely  known  in 
either  of  his  later  offices  than  he  was  in  the  days  when  he  lustily 
wound  the  sounding  horn  along  the  echoing  sides  of  the  Blue 
Mounds,  and,  with  a  cheery  flourish  of  his  long  silver-mounted 
whip,  brought  his  load  of  nappy  passengers  up  to  the  door  of  the 
house  for  dinner.  There  were  no  second-class  seats  in  the  coach  of 
those  days,  but  it  was  a  coveted  privilege,  and  memorable  to  him 
who  secured  it,  to  ride  on  the  box  with  "  The  Elder." 

The  date  of  the  political  organization  of  the  town  is  by  no  means 
the  beginning  of  the  history  of  Blue  Mounds.  As  long  ago  as  when 
the  school  maps  designated  all  the  country  west  of  Lake  Michigan 
as  Northwest  Territory,  a  point  about  midway  between  the  Missis- 
sippi and  the  lake,  was  marked  "  Smoky  Mts."  North  of  this  the 
Ouisconsin  river  (as  the  spelling  was)  was  indicated,  and  nothing  else 
of  all  that  makes  our  present  state  had  name  or  place.  The  two 
peaks  so  marked  Smoky  Mts,  since  called  the  Blue  Mounds,  are 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLUE    MOUNDS.  241 

conspicuous  features  in  the  landscape  of  western  Wisconsin.  Rising 
abruptly  from  the  long  rolling  prairie'  at  their  foot  to  the  height  of 
1,100  feet  above  the  level  of  the  river,  they  are  distinctly  visible 
more  than  fifty  miles  away,  and  seen  from  a  distance,  across  the 
prairie  on  a  summer  day,  the  names  Smoky  and  Blue  Mounds 
well  characterize  their  appearance. 

The  settlement,  which  has  always  borne  the  name  of  Blue  Mounds, 
is  worthy  of  special  mention  hi  a  history  of  Dane  county,  because 
it  was,  by  several  years,  the  earliest  settlement  in  the  county,  being 
among  the  earliest  hi  Wisconsin. 

Its  first  settler  was  Ebenezer  Brigham,  who  established  himself 
there  in  the  year  1828,  having  come  up  from  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Missouri  river,  first  to  what  is  now  Galena,  and  from  thence  to  the 
Blue  Mounds,  hi  search  of  Mineral  lands,  that  is,  lands  containing 
lead  ore.  The  discovery  of  lead  in  the  upper  Mississippi,  in  the  re^ 
gion  of  which  Galena  is  .now  the  heart,  created  an  excitement 
among  the  settlers  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  farther  down,  and  pro- 
duced a  rush  for  the  new  mining  district  quite  parallel  to  the  Cali- 
fornia excitement  of  1849.  The  last  was  more  widely  spread,  but 
in  intensity  and  wild  excitement  among  those  whom  it  reached,  in 
those  days  before  railroads  and  telegraphs,  the  lead  fever  in  1827 
and  1828  was  equal  to  the  gold  fever  twenty-one  years  later.  Both 
brought  sudden  riches  to  a  few,  and  untold  hardships  and  misery  to 
the  most. 

Mr.  Brigham  was  successful  hi  making  discovery  of  a  valuable 
body  of  mineral  (as  the  lead  ore  was  and  still  is  called  by  the  mi- 
ners) in  some  diggings  on  section  seven,  in  the  present  town  of 
Blue  Mounds,  which  had  been,  before,  somewhat  worked  by  Indi- 
ans and,  perhaps,  by  wandering  white  men,  but  had  been  aban- 
doned before  Mr.  Brigham's  discovery  of  the  lode  wliich  still  bears 
his  name.  He  built  his  cabin  near  a  fine  spring  of  cold  clear  water, 
on  the  side  of  the.  Mound,  overlooking  the  prairie  for  many  miles. 
The  spring  still  flows,  but  the  original  cabins,  hi  which  he  and  Ins 
companions  lived  for  several  years,  long  since  disappeared,  and  the 
larger  and  more  comfortable  farm  house  afterward  built,  which  old 
settlers  will  remember  pleasantly,  as  a  welcome  stopping  place  of  the 
olden  time,  and  which  had  been  maintained  in  its  original  form,  until 
it  had  become  an  interestiug  antiquity  hi  our  new  state,  having  en- 
dured more  than  forty  years,  was  burned  to  the  ground  in  January, 
1877. 

As  Mr.  Brigham  was  not  only  the  first  settler  of  the  town,  but 
16 


212  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  BJ.UE    MOUNDS. 

was  also  a  man  well  known  in  the  early  history  of  the  territory  and 
state,  it  is  proper  to  make  a  brief  record  of  his  public  service.  On 
the  organization  of  Wisconsin  Territory,  in  1886,  which  then  in- 
cluded what  is  now  in  Iowa  and  Minnesota,  as  well  as  the  present  state 
of  Wisconsin,  Mr.  Brigham  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Territorial 
council,  from  the  county  of  Iowa,  which  then  embraced  all  south  of 
the  Wisconsin  river  and  west  of  the  Four  Lakes.  The  council  con- 
sisted of  thirteen  members,  of  whom  seven  were  from  districts  with- 
in the  present  limits  of  Wisconsin,  and  six  were  from  west  of  the 
Mississippi.  Mr.  Brigham  attended  the  first  session  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, held  at  Belmont  in  1886,  and  the  two  sessions  held  at  Burling- 
ton in  1837  and  1838.  After  the  division  of  the  territory  by  the  line 
of  the  Mississippi  river,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  council  for 
the  district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Dane,  Dodge,  Green  and 
Jefferson,  and  was  present  at  the  sessions  of  1838,  1839,  1839-40, 
1840-1,  and  1841-2,  which  were  held  at  Madison. 

During  tins  period,  the  question  of  continuing  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment at  Madison  was  frequently  up  and  hotly  contested. 
During  one  session,  the  members  of  the  council  were  so  nearly 
equally  divided  that  the  absence  of  one  member,  voting  for  Madi- 
son, would  have  deen  fatal.  Mr.  Brigham  was,  naturally,  a  cham- 
pion of  Madison.  He  was  the  only  member  of  the  council  who  had 
ever  seen  the  spot,  when  the  act  of  1836  was  passed,  locating  the 
seat  of  government  at  a  point  ' '  between  the  Third  and  Fourth 
Lakes,"  at  the  section  corners  where  the  capitol  now  stands.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  three  members  of  the  assembly  from  Dane 
county  at  the  first  session  of  the  state  legislature  in  1848.  He  died 
in  1862,  and  his  remains  He  buried  in  the  Forest  Hill  Cemetery  of 
Madison. 

During  the  Black  Hawk  war,  in  1832,  Blue  Mounds  was  the  site 
of  one  of  the  neighborhood  forts,  for  the  protection  of  settlers 
against  the  Indians.  It  was  called  the  Mound  Fort,  and  was  the 
home  of  about  twenty-five  people,  including  women  and  children, 
untd  the  war  closed.  The  fort  was  situated  on  the  high  prairie, 
somewhat  more  than  a  mile  from  the  foot  of  the  mound,  and  com- 
manded a  view  wholly  unobstructed,  in  every  other  direction,  for 
many  miles.  The  fort  was  sometimes  threatened,  to  the  serious 
alarm  of  the  inmates,  but  was  never  actually  attacked  by  the  In- 
dians, who  were  frequently  seen  in  the  near  neighborhood,  so  that 
it  was  never  safe  to  be  far  outside  the  stockade.  At  different  times, 
thev  succeeded  in  killing  three  men  of  the  little  garrison,  outside  ol 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLUE    MOUNDS.  243 

the  protection  of  the  fort.  Two  of  them  were  butchered,  in  plain 
sight  of  the  inmates  of  the  fort,  but  too  far  away  to  be  rescued. 
The  two  Misses  Hall,  who  had  been  taken  captive,  were  brought  in 
to  the  Mound  Fort  by  Winnebagoes  and  surrendered,  on  the  pay- 
ment of  ransom .  and  the  young  women  were  returned  to  civilized 
life.  Then-  story  attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention  and  interest 
throughout  the  country,  and  the  Blue  Mounds  Were  brought  into  con- 
siderable notoriety,  by  the  fact  that  the  surrender  was  made  there. 

Blue  Mounds  was  the  point  where  Gen.  Henry,  with  his  command, 
effected  a  junction  with  Gen.  Atkinson  and  his  forces,  two  days  after 
the  battle  of  the  Wisconsin  Heights,  where  the  Indians,  under  Black 
Hawk,  suffered  terrible  defeat.  At  the  Mounds,  fresh  supplies  of 
amunition  and  provisions  were  procured,  and  the  troops  moved  on 
at  once.  Crossing  the  Wisconsin  at  Helena,  they  continued  the 
pursuit  of  the  flying  savages  to  the  Mississippi,  where  the  Indian 
forces  were  completely  destroyed,  in  what  is  known  as  the  battle  of 
Bad  Axe.  Black  Hawk  escaped  alive,  but  soon  after  surrendered 
himself  a  prisoner,  and  the  war  was  ended.  The  importance  of  Blue 
Mounds  as  a  point  in  these  movements,  lay  in  the  fact  that  it  afford- 
ed the  shortest  and  almost  the  only  feasible  route  to  the  Wisconsin 
river,  by  way  of  a  remarkable  ridge,  sometimes  called  the  "Hog's 
Back,"  just  wide  enough  for  a  wagon,  leading  from  the  back  of  the 
mound  nearly  to  the  river,  crossing  the  deep  ravines  and  avoiding 
the  marshes,  and  affording  a  natural  and  practicable  road  across  a 
country  otherwise  almost  impassable.  By  taking  this  route,  guided 
by  one  well  acquainted  with  the  country,  the  army  was  enabled  to 
overtake  the  Indians  in  their  retreat,  and  to  put  an  end  to  the  war 
at  a  blow. 

The  records  of  the  town  show  that  the  following  were  important 
citizens  in  1848,  at  the  organization  of  the  town  government,  viz. : 
Thomas  Haney,  Thomas  Steele,  A.  S.  Needham,  John  Sample,  Ed- 
ward Dale,  Jeremiah  Lycan,  Granville  Neal,  William  Rowe,  David 
Smith,  William  Skinner,  N.  Dryden  and  James  Tennison,  of  whom 
very  few  still  survive. 

At  the  present  time  the  town  is  off  the  usual  routes  of  travel,  and 
but  little  known  by  the  public.  Its  natural  features  remain,  and 
few,  if  any,  more  charming  prospects  are  afforded  any  where,  than 
that  gained  from  the  summit  of  the  high  mound  in  a  clear  day. 


244  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLUE    MOUNDS. 


WEST    BLUE    MOUNDS DE.  E.  W.  JONES. 

The  village  of  West  Blue  Mounds  is  situated  at  the 
base  of  the  "  "West  Blue  Mound,"  the  highest  and 
most  noted  of  all  the  Blue  Mounds.  On  the  east,  south 
and  west,  we  find  rich,  beautiful  prairies  —  not  an  un- 
broken and  level  plain,  but  undulating,  and  in  some 
places  quite  broken.  The  West  Blue  Mound  is  1,187 
feet  above  Lake  Michigan,  and  490  feet  above  the  vil- 
lage. We  are  told  by  reliable  parties  and  good  au- 
thority that  this  mound  is  the  highest  point  of  land 
in  this  or  neighboring  states.  From  the  summit  of 
the  mound  one  can  see  the  capital  city  with  the  naked 
eye,  and  with  a  good  glass,  farms  and  buildings  can 
be  studied  in  every  particular  a  distance  of  more  than 
forty  miles.  Here  we  find  a  signal  station  and  an 
observatory,  constructed,  we  believe,  by  Profs.  Davies 
and  Irving,  and  a  corps  from  the  State  University, while 
studying  the  topography  of  the  country.  Near  the 
summit  we  find  several  fine  sulphur  springs,  pouring 
forth  large  streams  of  their  peculiar  mineral  water. 
This  mountain  is  the  property  of  Mr.  C.  B.  Arnold. 
Persons  desiring  absolute  quiet,  pure  air  and  water, 
cannot  find  a  more  suitable  spot  wherein  to  pitch  their 
tent.  As  a  resort  for  fatigued  brain-workers,  this 
point  is  especially  adapted.  No  one  breathes  this 
pure  air  without  feeling  a  sense  of  exhilaration  that 
is  really  astonishing. 

About  a  mile  southeast  of  the  village  is  the  site  of 
the  old  Blue  Mound  fort  where  the  early  settlers  had 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLUE    MOUNDS.  245 

prepared  a  place  of  safety  for  their  families  in  case  of 
trouble  with  the  Indians.  The  stockade  is  gone,  and 
only  the  walls  of  earth  remain  to  mark  the  spot  where 
the  brave  and  hardy  pioneers  in  years  gone  by  were 
wont  to  assemble  for  mutual  assistance  and  protection. 
In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  village  are  some  of 
the  most  noted  lead  mines  in  the  state,  such  as  "  the 
Brag  Holler,"  Brigham,  and  old  Dudley  diggings. 
The  ore  from  these  mines,  I  believe,  is  the  richest  in 
the  world,  being  more  than  90  per  cent,  pure  lead. 

The  business  interests  of  the  place  have  never 
flagged.  The  Hon.  John  Adams,  of  Black  Earth,  was 
the  first  business  man  of  note  in  the  village,  and  he 
has  done  more  than  any  other,  perhaps,  to  establish 
the  commercial  interests  of  the  place.  The  magnet 
(railroad  iron)  took  him  from  this  point  many  years 
ago,  and  he  is  so  enamored  of  the  steam  whistle,  that 
it  is  only  once  in  a  great  while  that  his  genial  face  is 
seen  among  his  old  friends  and  associates.  Mr.  Adams 
has  an  enviable  reputation  among  the  farmers  of  this 
section  for  honesty  and  fair  dealing;  in  fact,  is  known 
as  the  farmer's  friend. 

Next  among  the  men  who  helped  greatly  toward 
building  up  the  place,  we  note  Mr.  Richard  "Wade, 
now  of  Adamsville.  Mr.  "Wade  was  proprietor  and 
landlord  of  the  then  "  Wade  House."  He  also  car- 
ried a  large  stock  of  goods,  and  made  quite  a  fortune 
by  his  strict  business  manners  and  hard  work.  An- 
other thing  Mr.  Wade  did  was  to  rechristen  the 
village.     From  a  weakness  the  miners  had  for  the 


246  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  BLUE   MOUNDS. 

game  of  "■poker,"  he  named  the  place  " Pokerville," 
and  by  that  name  the  village  is  best  known  hereabouts. 
Mr.  Ira  Isham  is  said  to  be  the  originator  of  the  name. 

H.  Isaacson,  Esq.,  now  of  Black  Earth,  was  for- 
merly of  this  burg,  and  "Ike  "  has  handled  many  a 
crisp  bill  and  bright  gold  piece  while  a  merchant  of 
this  town. 

At  present  the  business  interests  of  the  place  are  in 
a  very  flourishing  condition.  Mr.  William  H.  Jones, 
the  leading  merchant,  is  a  strict  and  judicious  business 
man.  He  is  doing  a  very  large  business,  selling  any- 
thing a  man  wants,  from  a  cambric  needle  to  a  prai- 
rie farm.  Mr.  Jones'  business  amounts  to  upwards 
of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  a  year,  and  by  his 
square  dealing,  genial  manners,  and  an  eye  to  trade, 
it  is  constantly  on  the  increase.  Certainly  no  man 
has  the  confidence  of  his  customers  more  implicitly 
than  Mr.  Jones,  and  from  an  intimate  acquaintance 
with  his  private  life  as  well  as  his  business  principles, 
no  man  is  more  deserving  of  such  a  trust.  Aside 
from  his  large  store,  Mr.  Jones  is  proprietor  of 
the  up-town  hotel.  The  house  has  a  reputation 
among  traveling  men  that  speaks  more  forcibly  than 
any  pen  picture  can  advertise  it.  Let  the  readers  of 
your  book  stop  once  at  this  house,  and  they  will  be 
satisfied  that  this  is  one  of  the  best  country  hotels  on 
the  continent. 

Next  we  meet  our  old  friend  C.  B.  Arnold,  who  has 
been  here  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Mr.  Arnold  is  a 
strict  business  man,  and  owns  many  hundreds  acres  of 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLUE    MOUNDS.  247 

land,  including  the  famed  West  Blue  Mound.  Aside 
from  this  fine  property,  lie  is  conducting  a  large  and 
excellent  hotel,  also  a  well  ordered  store.  Mr.  A. 
has  kept  a  hotel  here  for  more  than  twenty  years, 
and  certainly  understands  his  business.  Through  all 
this  period  the  traveling  public  have  eaten  the  good 
things  from  his  table,  and  all  agree  that  the  house  is 
hard  to  beat.  I  understand  the  firm  name  is  soon  to 
be  changed  to  C.  B.  Arnold  &  Son,  Mr.  A.  taking  his 
son  Ralph  into  full  partnership. 

Messrs.  Smith  &  Racely  are  the  leading  wagon 
makers  and  smiths  of  the  place.  They  are  young  men 
of  skill,  muscle  and  energy,  and  are  bound  to  win. 
They  have  a  fine,  commodious  building,  well  stocked 
with  wood  and  iron,  ready  at  all  times  to  do  work  in 
their  line  neatly  and  satisfactorily.  : 

Mr.  John  Helmenstein  is  the  "  boss  "  boot  and  shoe 
maker.  John  is  an  old  settler,  and  has,  aside  from 
an  exceptionally  large  trade  in  the  shop  and  shoe 
store,  one  of  the  very  best  farms  in  Wisconsin,  which 
is  manned  from  his  own  household,  having  six  hardy 
sons,  who,  by  the  way,  are  most  excellent  farmers. 
John  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  at  present  in  town. 

Mr.  James  B.  Quinn  is  doing  a  large  business  in 
the  harness  trade.  Being  a  first-class  workman  him- 
self, and  having  only  good  journeymen  in  his  shop, 
the  public  cannot  help  but  be  satisfied  with  his  work. 
Mr.  Quinn  is  also  doing  a  good  business  in  the  liquor 
trade.     AVe  recommend  Mr.  Q  as  a  first-class  man. 

0.  W.  Miller,  carpenter  and  joiner,  is  an  old  settler, 


248  DANE     COUNTY    TOWNS BLUE    MOUNDS. 

a  first-class  mechanic,  and  the  best  shot  in  Iowa 
county.  We  might  descant  on  his  many  virtues,  but  all 
to  no  end,  for  every  one  within  a  hundred  miles  knows 
"  Old  Tony  the  Scout."  Mr.  Miller  is  an  old  plains 
man,  Indian  fighter,  scout,  and  the  best  natured,  big- 
gest hearted,  and  most  contented  man  living;  that  is 
"  our  opinion." 

Dr.  R.  "W.  Jones,  a  Kentnckian  bred  and  born,  is 
the  only  physician  in  the  village.  There  are  no  law- 
yers nearer  than  Black  Earth,  Mazomanie  or  Dodge- 
ville.  The  general  health  of  this  place  and  the  sur- 
rounding country  is  remarkably  good,  and  free  from 
the  results  of  malaria  in  less  favored  localities. 

Black  Earth,  Mineral  Point,  Mazomanie  and  Madi- 
son, are  the  railroad  points  to  and  from  which  all  our 
wares  come  and  go.     So  much  for  Pokerville. 

Among  others  doing  a  good  trade  in  general  mer- 
chandise, is  Mattheus  Gratz,  who  is  favorably  known 
through  a  large  portion  of  this  and  adjoining  towns. 
Carl  Morhrhenney  and  Son  are  also  known  as  good 
mechanics  in  the  blacksmith  business;  while  Ole 
Olsen  has  a  steady  increasing  custom  in  harness  mak- 
ing and  repairing. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS WINDSOR.  249 


WINDSOR. 


BY    SHERMAN    BROTHERS. 


The  town  of  Windsor  is  on  the  north  tier  of  towns 
in  the  county  of  Dane,  lying  IN".  N.  E.  from  the  city 
of  Madison  about  twelve  miles.  Bounded  north  by 
the  town  of  Leeds,  Columbia  county;  east  by  the 
town  of  Bristol;  south  by  the  town  of  Burke;  and 
west  by  the  town  of  Vienna. 

About  three-fourths  of  the  town  is  high,  smooth, 
rolling  prairie;  about  one-fourth  openings  and  grove 
timber^  with  a  small  portion  of  marsh  lands. 

Two  creeks  take  their  rise  in  Windsor,  known  as 
Token  and  Catfish  creeks;  the  most  important  of 
which  is  Token  creek,  its  prominent  source  being 
three  springs,  from  which  a  sufficient  amount  of  water 
gushes  out  of  the  earth  at  the  foot  of  a  small  hill  to 
run  a  mill. 

The  soil  of  the  town  is  very  rich  and  productive, 
easy  to  till,  nearly  all  of  which  is  under  cultivation. 

At  the  time  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  the  munitions 
of  war  and  soldiers  on  their  way  from  Madison  to  Fort 
Winnebago  passed  through  the  town  of  Windsor,  and 
the  amount  of  travel  made  such  a  trail  that  some 
traces  of  it  may  still  be  seen. 

When  Mr.  Robert  L.  Ream,  in  1839,  made  a  jour- 
ney from  Madison  to  Fort  Winnebago,  he  started 


250  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS WINDSOR. 

on  horse  back,  and  took  this  trail.  There  were  only 
two  houses  between  the  fort  and  Madison,  those  of 
William  Lawrence,  near  Token  Creek,  and  Wallis 
Rowan,  near  Poynette,  on  the  military  road.  Mr. 
Ream  put  up  at  Rowan's,  and  after  being  bountifully 
supplied  with  hoe  cake  and  bacon  by  Mrs.  Rowan,  re- 
tired to  rest.  He  was  woke  up  early  in  the  morning 
by  several  cocks  crowing  in  close  proximity  to  his 
bed,  and  discovered  that  the  rail  of  his  bed  was  the 
roost  of  Mr.  Rowan's  chickens.  When  he  returned 
from  the  fort,  he  put  up  at  the  same  place,  and  slept 
in  the  same  bed,  and  says  when  he  awoke,  he  thought 
he  had  a  flock  of  sheep  for  his  bedfellows,  but  they 
afterwards  proved  to  be  a  number  of  Indians  with  new 
blankets,  who  had  noiselessly  taken  possession  of  the 
floor  during  his  slumbers,  and  the  new  white  blankets 
were  the  results  of  a  visit  to  some  trading  post. 

The  first  actual  settler  was  Wm.  Lawrence.  He 
came  from  the  state  of  Vermont,  and  settled  in  the 
town  in  the  year  1841,  on  section  5,  on  what  is  well 
known  as  Eagle  Point,  or  the  Ilelden  farm,  now 
owned  by  Hon.  J.  C.  Hopkins,  of  the  city  of  Madison. 
Mr.  Lawrence  was  one  of  the  patriots  from  this  town 
who  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army  during  the  late  re- 
bellion. He  was  taken  sick  while  in  the  service,  came 
home  and  died  at  his  residence  in  Windsor. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Lawrence,  James 
Morrison,  a  Scotchman,  settled  on  Section  6,  near 
what  is  now  known  as  Morrison  Station.  Mr.  Mor  ■ 
rison  was  a  man  of  ability  as  a  farmer;  succeeded  to 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS WINDSOR.  251 

accumulate  a  good  property;  settled  two  of  his  sons 
on  fine  large  farms  near  his  residence,  and  at  his 
death,  about  one  rear  ago,  left  his  other  son  in  pos- 
session of  the  old  homestead. 

About  cotemporary  with  Mr.  Morrison's  settlement 
was  that  of  Thos.  Campbell,  another  Scotchman,  who 
settled  on  section  17,  near  what  is  now  the  village  of 
De  Forest.  Mr.  C.  has  also  been  successful  in  tilling 
the  soil.  Surrounded  by  many  of  the  good  things  of 
this  life,  he  is  still  living  to  enjoy  them. 

Mr.  Pellett  soon  after  built  a  log  house  on  sec.  30, 
on  the  farm  once  known  as  the  Turner  farm,  but  now 
as  the  Spencer  farm.  The  same  year  Mr.  Leland  set- 
tled on  Sec.  30,on  what  is  now  owned  by  S.  H.  Sabin. 
Their  log  houses  still  stand,  but  they  have  had  some 
repairs.  Messrs.  P.  and  L.  were  both  from  the  state 
of  Yermont. 

Charles  Lawrence  came  from  the  state  of  Vermont 
in  1838;  married  a  Miss  Moore  in  the  city  of  Madi- 
son; built  a  house  and  commenced  to  improve  a  farm 
in  the  year  1842,  at  Token  Creek,  in  the  town  of 
Windsor.  Mr.  Lawrence  has  three  children  —  Henry, 
James  and  Ellis.  Henry  was  the  first  male  child 
born  in  Windsor.  He  married  Miss  Bertha  Miller 
in  Windsor,  and  they  are  now  living  in  the  city  of 
Madison.  Henry  Lawrence  is  a  mechanic  of  superior 
skill  as  a  painter. 

In  the  same  year  of  Mr.  Lawrence's  settlement 
(184:2),  Randall  Abner,  a  well  educated  Indian  im- 
proved a  piece  of  land  on  sec.  28,  known  for  many 


252  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS WINDSOR. 

years  as  the  "  Old  Abner  40;"  now  owned  by  Jeffer- 
son A.  Pinney.  Mr.  Abner  was  a  sweet  singer,  took 
an  active  part  in  politics,  and  was'  a  good  man  in 
many  respects.  He  emigrated  to  California  some 
twenty  years  ago,  joined  the  United  States  Regular 
Army  as  a  scout,  and  was  killed,  in  the  discharge  of 
such  duty,  by  an  Indian. 

In  the  year  1843,  Mr.  Nathan  Spalding  left  his 
native  state  (Vermont),  and,  after  a  long  journej7,  a 
part  of  the  way  traveling  with  an  ox  team,  he  halted 
in  the  town  of  Windsor,  himself,  wife  and  three  chil- 
dren much  worn  out  by  fatigue.  He  built  a  house 
on  section  34,  and  improved  a  fine  piece  of  land.  Mr. 
S.  was  a  good  man.  He  held  several  offices  in  town 
during  life.  He  was  commissioned  by  President 
Polk  as  postmaster,  which  office  he  held  for  twenty- 
five  years.     He  died  in  December,  1874. 

About  cotemporary  with  the  settlement  of  Mr. 
Spalding  was  that  of  Mr.  Toffelmire.  He  built  a 
house  on  the  town  line  at  Token  Creek;  made  a  dam 
across  the  creek,  and  just  below  it  put  up  a  saw  mill 
in  the  town  of  Burke. 

In  1844-5,  N.  N.  Pike  and  James  West,  Sr.,  squatted 
on  section  5;  Thomas  Kewin,  Thomas  Cummings  and 
John  Kershaw,  on  section  6;  James  West,  Jr.,  and 
Major  Kinnison  on  section  8;  Samuel  Stephenson 
was  the  first  settler  on  section  17.  Kershaw  and 
Stephenson  left  to  seek  their  fortunes  in  California 
during  the  gold  excitement  of  1849.  Kershaw  re- 
turned,  and  is  now  a  prosperous  farmer  in  the  adjoin- 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS WINDSOR.  253 

ing  town  of  Vienna.  All  of  these  early  settlers  Lave 
removed,  most  of  them  in  1847,  when  a  number  of 
Norwegian  families  located  in  the  northwest  part  of 
the  town  and  purchased  the  former  claims.  Among 
these  were  Ingebrecht  Larson,  Peter  Linde,  Stephen 
Holum  and  Sinr  and  Johannes  Grinde.  This  year, 
J.  W.  Helden,  of  the  firm  of  Helden  &  Weston,  j)ro- 
prietors  of  the  "Fay"  saw  mill,  in  Wood  county, 
Wisconsin,  sold  his  interest  in  the  mill,  and  other  ex- 
tensive lumbering  interests,  bought  the  place  first 
owned  by  Wm.  Lawrence,  added  large  tracts  of  land 
to  the  original  purchase,  and  introduced  valuable 
stock,  having  for  many  years  conducted  a  stock  farm. 
The  place  was  then  known  as  "Eagle  Point."  He 
kept  hotel.  The  building,  a  log  structure,  one  of  the 
earliest  landmarks,  is  still  standing,  suggesting  happy 
recollections  to  travelers  and  early  settlers. 

From  1845  to  1846,  there  was  a  rush  of  immi- 
gration into  the  town  from  various  parts  of  the  world, 
viz.:  Daniel  W.  Stone,  from  Maine;  Elias  Combs, 
Wm.  Whitney,  Samuel  Burrington,  Sylvester  Ray- 
mond, James  Dorman,  Wm.  Bartholomew,  Morris 
Goodrich,  and  many  more,  from  the  state  of  Ohio; 
Christian  O.  Hatleberg,  from  Norway,  the  first  Scan- 
dinavian settler;  and  Ferdinand  Rekon,  the  first  Ger- 
man settler,  O.  M.  Cross,  Josiah  E.  Carpenter,  Rev. 
Elisha  R.  Swain  (a  Baptist  clergyman),  Willard 
Blanchar,  James  Farwell,  Orrin  Chamberlain,  Leon- 
ard and  Justin  Fish,  Isaac  Porter,  Warren  Baird, 
Nathan  Rowley,  S.  H.  Sabin,  Justin  C.  Pinney,  James 


254  DANE   COUNTY    TOWNS WINDSOR. 

Patterson,  Dr.  Robert  K.  Bell,  Nathan  Dodge,  and 
others  from  different  parts. 

Samuel  Stevenson  was  the  first  Englishman.  He 
settled  this  same  year  on  section  1  7,  and  commenced  to 
improve  the  farm  known  as  the  "  Durkee  Farm,"  and 
subsequently  as  the  "  De  Forest  Farm,"  which  atone 
time  was  the  largest  farm  in  Windsor. 

In  the  fall  of  1846,  the  town  was  organized  with 
the  towns  of  Burke,  Westport  and  Vienna,  and  as  many 
of  the  early  settlers  were  from  Vermont,  it  was  their 
intention  to  name  the  town  "Allen,"  in  honor  of  Eth- 
an Allen,  the  eccentric  representative  of  the  Green 
Mountain  State,  but  on  presentation  of  the  name  to 
the  legislature  it  was  found  that  there  was  already  a 
town  by  the  name  of  "  Allen  "  in  the  state,  and  con- 
sequently another  name  must  be  adopted  for  the  pro- 
posed new  town.  When  the  citizens  had  learned  this 
fact,  the  question  of  a  name  for  the  town  was  upon 
every  body's  tongue.  While  this  was  being  dis- 
cussed at  a  social  gathering  of  a  few  neighbors,  it 
occurred  to  Mrs.  J,  E.  Carpenter  and  Mrs.  Wm.  Whit- 
ney, who  were  present,  that  the  town  should  be  called 
"Windsor,"  in  commemoration  of  Windsor,  Vt.,  the 
native  town  of  Mrs.  Whitney.  Windsor,  said  these 
good  matrons,  is  a  pretty  name,  and  old  Windsor,  in 
the  Green  Mountain  State  is  worthy  of  a  namesake  in 
the  Badger  State  and  why  not  call  the  new  town 
Windsor?  "  Windsor.*'  "Windsor."  resounded  from 
all  parts  of  the  room,  and  "  Windsor"  was  soon  ech- 
oed from  the  surrounding  neighborhood.     Without 


DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  WINDSOR.  255 

further  formality  the  name  "  Windsor  "  was  sent  up 
to  the  legislature  and  became  the  established  name  of 
the  new  town.  Thus  it  was  that  these  two  worthy 
ladies  gave  the  town  a  name.  Mrs.  Carpenter  still 
lives  within  its  limits,  enjoying  a  competency  of  the 
good  things  of  this  life,  the  result  of  honest  industry, 
but  Mrs.  Whitney,  some  years  ago,  emigrated  to  the 
state  of  Iowa. 

The  first  election  was  held  in  the  spring  following, 
at  the  house  of  Horace  Lawrence,  then  known  as  the 
Prairie  House,  in  the  township  of  Burke,  and  elected 
Charles  M.  Nichols  chairnun  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors, who  lived  on  section  36,  in  the  township  of 
Burke;  Eleazer  Grover  and  Mr.  Pettit  were  his  asso- 
ciates; Ira  Mead,  town  clerk;  Selden  Combs,  treas- 
urer; and  Elias  Combs,  justice  of  the  peace. 

The  first  wedding  party  in  Windsor  was  at  the  log 
house  of  Wm.  Whitney,  about  one  mile  north  of 
Token  Creek.  Josiah  E.  Carpenter,  Esq.,  and  Miss 
Caroline  M.  Reynolds  were  joined  in  wedlock  by  Rev. 
E.  R.  Swain.  A  large  company  were  there  on  the 
occasion.  Joy,  glee,  mirth  and  happiness  were  un- 
bounded. Venison,  roast  pig,  and  other  good  things 
were  placed  on  the  table,  and  eaten  with  a  relish  not 
often  seen  in  these  latter  days.  The  Elder  remarked 
to  the  young  married  couple  that  "they  must  not  be 
surprised  if  they  did  not  always  have  so  good  a  meal;" 
but  we  are  happy  to  say  that  whenever  we  have  dined 
at  Mr.  C.'s  house,  which  frequently  we  have  done,  we 
invariably  have  found  a  well  spread  table. 


256  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS WINDSOR. 

The  first  female  child  born  in  Windsor  was  at  the 
same  log  house,  the  daughter  of  the  before  mentioned 
Rev.  E.  R.  Swain.  The  child  was  named  Delia. 
Although  a  delicate  child,  she  grew  up  to  be  a  strong 
girl;  received  a  fine  education  at  the  seminary  at 
Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  married  a  Mr.  Ringland,  and  they 
are  now  living  in  Boone,  Boone  county,  state  of  Iowa. 
The  old  log  house  is  still  standing. 

Our  space  will  not  allow  us  to  record  but  little  of 
the  characteristics  of  these  early  settlers,  and  perhaps 
we  shall  weary  the  readers  of  this  volume  with  our 
lengthy  history.  We  must  beg  indulgence  simply  to 
say  this  much,  that  all  of  them  had  the  true  spirit  of 
pioneers.  They  enjoyed  frontier  life.  It  was  "  Hale 
fellows  well  met,"  in  those  days.  Neighbor  received 
neighbor  at  his  cabin  with  cordiality,  and  travelers 
were  made  welcome  to  their  hospitality.  The  small  log 
cabin  with  already  two  or  three  families  in  it,  would 
be  found  large  enough  for  another  family  when  some 
others  came  to  make  a  home  among  them.  There 
was  no  ambition  then  to  see  who  could  wear  the  finest 
clothes,  drive  the  fastest  horse,  ride  in  the  finest  car- 
riage, or  live  in  the  highest  style;  but  they  were  am- 
bitious to  see  who  could  break  the  largest  number  of 
acres  of  the  prairie  and  opening  lands.  There  was  a 
competition  to  see  who  could  grow  the  most  wheat 
and  other  products  of  the  soil.  They  were  a  moral 
people.  Quarrels,  broils  and  disturbances  seldom  oc- 
curred, and  law  suits  wTere  exceedingly  rare.  They 
were  not  unmindful  in   matters  of  religion.     With 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS WINDSOR.  257 

the  Rev.  E.  R.  Swain  for  their  minister,  preacher  and 
pastor,  they  were  well  instructed  out  of  the  word  of 
God.  They  listened,  heard  and  obeyed.  Few  men  who 
preach  the  gospel  of  Christ  will  ever  compare  favora- 
bly with  E.  R.  Swain.  It  is  written,  "Woe  imto  you 
when  all  men  speak  well  of  you."  It  has  often  been 
said,  the  Elder  is  free  from  the  woe,  one  speaks  evil 
and  one  alone;  his  words  can  do  the  Elder  no  harm. 
Elder  Swain  sold  his  farm  in  town,  and  removed  to 
Iowa  about  ten  years  ago,  where  he  still  lives  with 
one  of  his  sons. 

After  the  organization  of  the  town,  immigration 
rapidly  increased.  English,  Germans,  Norwegians, 
and  people  from  different  states  settled  on  the  fine 
prairie  lands  of  the  town,  built  better  houses  than  the 
first  settlers  had  done,  and  large  portions  of  the  rich, 
black  sod  were  annually  cut  and  turned  over  by  the 
plow.  The  prairie  was  soon  dotted  all  over  with  com- 
fortable homes,  and  nearly  every  acre  was  brought 
nnder  cultivation. 

In  this  class  of  settlers,  we  beg  leave  to  mention  the 

the  names  of  Thomas  Bewick,  William  G.  Bartlett, 

George  Cole,  ^English/  William  Walk,  William  Wer- 

nick,  John  Hinder  and  his  sons  John  C,  Frederick, 

and  Christian,  and  also  his  son-in-law  Frederick  Pev- 

ion;  Ernst  Miller,  Jas.  Meixner  and  his  sons  Jas.  I., 

John,  Antone,  and  Frank;  Ferdinand  Gomalke,  Flo- 

rian  Schambra,  Henry  A.  Miller,  Henry  Brockmiller 

and  others,  Germans/  John  Olsen,  Shure  Shureson, 

John  Knudtson,  and  others,  Norwegians;  John  Bur- 
17 


258  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS WINDSOR. 

rington  and  his  sons  Jonathan,  Rial,  Daniel,  Calvin 
and  Charles;  Franklin  and  Martin  Ililliard,  Austin 
Freeman,  Allison  and  Tertius  Turner,  James  Cle- 
ments and  E.  P.  Sherman,  from  different  states. 

About  the  year  1853,  Hon.  Charles  Durkee  left 
his  comfortable  home  in  Kenosha,  Wis.,  and  pur- 
chased Mr.  Stevenson's  property,  already  well  im- 
proved, and  soon  after  600  acres  of  section  16  (a  school, 
section);  put  the  whole  of  section  16  under  the 
plow  in  one  year,  purchased  a  large  flock  of  sheep 
and  other  stock,  and  commenced  farming  on  a  big 
scale.  Seven  hundred  sheep  were  shorn  in  one  year; 
4,000  bushels  of  buckwheat  grown  in  another  year, 
and  as  high  as  8,000  bushels  of  spring  wheat  sent  to 
market,  one  of  the  products  of  this  farm  for  a  single 
year.  Mr.  Durkee  soon  made  sale  of  his  farm  at  $25 
per  acre,  to  Mr.  Isaac  N.  DeForest;  went  to  Utah, 
was  made  governor  of  the  territory,  and  died  on  his 
way  to  visit  his  old  home  in  Kenosha,  about  two  years 
ago. 

The  Madison  and  Portage  Kailroad,  connecting  the 
city  of  Madison  with  Portage  City,  is  the  only  line  of 
railroad  passing  through  the  town  of  Windsor.  Pre- 
vious to  the  location  of  this  road,  two  other  lines  of 
railroad  had  been  surveyed,  passing  from  corner  to 
corner  through  the  town,  and  crossing  each  other  on 
section  26,  E.  P.  Sherman's  land;  but  neither  of  these 
two  lines  were  ever  built. 

The  Madison  &  Portage  Kailroad  is  about  40  miles 
in  length,  and  would  prove  an  important  link  in  any 
railroad  line  leading  from  north  to  south  through  the 


DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  WINDSOR.  250 

central  part  of  the  state.  In  its  incipient  stages,  this 
road  had  a  hard  struggle  for  existence,  lying  almost 
dormant  for  several  years  after  being  surve}red,  and 
the  people  of  Windsor  began  to  despair  of  ever  hav- 
ing a  railroad  pass  through  their  town.  But  about 
the  year  18G9,  a  new  impetus  was  given  to  the  enter- 
prise through  the  indomitable  courage  and  persever- 
ance of  James  Campbell,  president  of  the  company, 
assisted  by  Robert  Sanderson  as  secretary,  and  an 
efficient  board  of  directors.  Through  their  influence 
the  towns  along  the  line  of  the  road,  and  at  its  ter- 
mini, were  induced  to  purchase  stock  of  the  company, 
either  paying  cash  or  giving  bonds  for-  the  same;  and, 
with  the  aid  thus  afforded,  the  road  was  completed 
in  the  year  1870.  In  the  matter  of  furnishing  aid  for 
this  enterprise,  the  town  of  Windsor  generously  fur- 
nished six  thousand  dollars  in  cash,  and  now  holds 
the  company's  stock  certificates  for  that  amount. 

In  the  matter  of  schools  and  school  houses,  Wind- 
sor compares  favorably  with  other  towns  in  Dane 
county.  The  rude  log  school  houses  of  the  early  set- 
tlers have  given  place  to  neat  and  convenient  edifices; 
and  many  of  the  modern  improvements  in  school 
house  furniture  have  been  adopted.  A  striking  con- 
trast between  the  school  houses  of  the  early  settlers 
and  those  of  the  present  day  is  seen  in  District  No.  1 
near  Token  Creek  village,  where  the  first  log  school 
house  in  town  was  built.  A  large  and  well  propor- 
tioned white  edifice,  now  crowns  the  summit  of  a 
gentle  eminence,  within  half  a  mile  of  the  site  of  the 


260  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS WINDSOR. 

old  log  house.  Other  districts  in  town  show  equal- 
ly striking  contrasts.  But  the  log  school  houses  had 
their  day  of  usefulness,  and  will  be  held  in  grate- 
ful remembrance  by  many  intelligent  men  and  wo- 
men of  the  present  day,  who  received  the  first  rudi- 
ments of  education  at  these  primitive  edifices. 

Three  villages,  Windsor,  De  Forest  and  Morrison, 
are  located  on  the  line  of  the  Madison  and  Portage 
Railroad,  within  the  limits  of  the  town  of  Windsor. 
Each  village  is  favored  with  a  railroad  station;  each 
has  an  express  office,  and  each  is  a  market  for  grain 
and  other  farm  products.  And  although  these  villages 
are  only  about  two  miles  apart,  and  are  within  ten 
miles  of  other  competing  markets,  still  quite  an 
amount  of  business  is  done  at  each;  about  100,000 
bushels  of  wheat,  15,000  bushels  of  barley,  and 
15,000  bushels  of  oats  on  the  average,  are  annually 
shipped  from  these  three  stations,  besides  consider- 
able quantities  of  corn,  potatoes,  wool,  hides,  poultry, 
butter,  eggs,  live  stock,  etc.  From  the  village  of 
Windsor  alone,  ten  to  fifteen  thousand  dollars  worth 
of  live  hogs  are  annually  shipped.  Each  of  the  three 
stations  has  its  lumber  yard,  and  large  quantities  of 
lumber  are  annually  sold  at  each. 

Among  the  enterprising  business  men  of  Windsor 
village,  are  Sherman  Bros.,  proprietors  of  the  Wind- 
sor cheese  factory,  and  dealers  in  grain,  lumber,  flour, 
feed,  salt,  live  stock,  etc.,  being  the  successors  of  E.  P. 
Sherman;  Greenman  Bros,  are  the  leading  merchants, 
and  have  a  large  trade  in  their  line  of  business.     H. 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS — WINDSOR.  261 

B.  Lake  is  the  only  druggist;  R.  F.  Sherman  runs  a 
tin  and  hardware  shop.  He  is  particularly  noted  for 
his  skill  as  a  cheese-maker,  and  has  charge  of  the 
Windsor  cheese  factory.  C  B.  Wilsey  runs  a  suc- 
cessful blacksmith  shop,  and  C.  E.  Carlton  does  a 
good  business  as  carriage  maker. 

De  Fokest.  —  At  De  Forest  is  a  substantial  and 
capacious  grain  elevator,  owned  and  operated  by 
H.  S.  Grinde,  Esq.  Over  70,000  bushels  of  wheat, 
besides  other  grain,  have  been  shipped  through  this 
elevator  in  one  year.  Dennis  Crawley  owns  a  ware- 
house, and  buys  grain,  etc.,  and  keeps  a  stock  of  lum- 
ber. Moldstad,  Dahl  &  Durkee,  general  merchants. 
K.  Knud son's  machine  shops  are  located  at  this  place. 
The  proprietor,  a  skilled  and  practical  mechanic,  does 
an  extensive  business. 

At  Morrison  Station,  there  is  a  grain  warehouse 
and  general  store,  conducted  by  Mr.  Watkins. 

WINDSOR   IN   THE   WAR BY   HERBERT   A.    LEWIS. 

We  have  been  kindly  furnished  the  following  war 
history,  together  with  news  of  the  churches,  by  Mr. 
Herbert  A.  Lewis,  whose  long  and  intimate  acquaint- 
ance with  the  town  is  a  sufficient  guaranty  for  the  ac- 
curacy of  its  interesting  details: 

During  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  the  town  did  its  full  share.  Ac- 
cording to  the  records,  the  town  was  required  to  furnish  seventy- 
three  soldiers,  as  its  part  of  the  great  armies  summoned  to  the  de- 
fense of  the  Union.  It  furnished  eighty-six.  No  regular  organization 
was  raised  in  the  town,  as  the  volunteers  were  scattered  through 
many  different  regiments.    The  town  was  largely  represented  in 


262  DANE   COUNTY    TOWNS  —  WINDSOR. 

the  first  cavalry,  the  thirty-third,  thirty-sixth,  fortieth,  and  other 
Wisconsin  regiments. 

Among  those  who  died  in  the  service  were,  William  Lawrence,  hi 
the  first  cavalry;  John  T.  Vincent,  of  the  Berdan  Sharpshooters; 
Chester  Porter,  Abram  Bartholomew,  and  Henry  Goodrich,  of  the 
thirty-third  regiment;  Adam  Smith,  of  this  regiment,  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Tupelo,  in  Mississippi  m  the  summer  of  1864.  Mar- 
shal Combs  enlisted  in  the  second  Iowa  regiment  at  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war,  and  at  the  bloody  battle  of  Fort  Donaldson  was 
wounded,  and  came  home  to  die.  His  cousin,  Melvin  Combs,  also 
died  in  the  service.  Col.  Clement  E.  Warner,  at  present  an  influ- 
ential resident  of  the  town,  raised  a  company  for  the  thirty-sixth 
regiment.  Being  the  first  captain  mustered  in,  he  became  the  rank- 
ing captain.  The  thirty-sixth  arrived  at  the  front  in  Virginia  about 
the  first  of  May,  1864,  and  engaged  at  once  in  the  bloody  battles  of 
that  year  in  Virginia.  In  less  than  three  weeks  after  its  arrival,  its 
field  officers  had  all  been  killed  or  wounded,  and  Capt.  Warner 
found  himself  in  command  of  the  regiment.  He  was  commissioned 
major,  lieutenant  colonel,  and  colonel,  before  the  close  of  the  war. 
While  holding  the  office  of  lieutenant  colonel,  and  while  in  com- 
mand of  his  regiment  at  the  battle  of  Deep  Bottom,  on  the  14th  of 
August,  1864,  he  lost  his  left  arm,  by  a  ininnie  ball.  As  soon  as  he 
had  recovered  from  the  amputation,  he  returned  to  his  regiment  and 
remained  in  command  until  the  close  of  the  war.  At  the  time  of  the 
surrender  of  Gen.  Lee  to  Gen.  Grant,  the  thirty-sixth  was  stationed 
just  in  front  of  the  place  where  these  distinguished  officers  arranged 
the  terms,  and  it  was  to  Col.  Warner  that  Gen.  Mead  announced  the 
fact  that  Lee  had  surrendered.  Col.  Warner  has  since  represented 
the  eastern  district  of  Dane  county  hi  the  state  senate.  He  is  still  a 
substantial  farmer  in  the  town. 

Samuel  S.  Brink  was  a  member  of  the  thirty-sixth,  and  lost  a  foot 
in  one  of  the  early  battles  hi  which  the  regiment  was  engaged. 

Anson  D.  Goodrich  enlisted  in  the  thirty-tliird  regiment  as  a  pri- 
vate, but  was  appomted  orderly  sergeant,  and  was  afterwards  com- 
missioned first  lieutenant  of  his  company.  S.  H.  Sabin  was  first 
lieutenant  of  company  D.  of  the  fortieth  regiment.  This  was  one 
of  the  hundred  days  regiments,  and  the  town  had  a  large  repre- 
sentation in  its  ranks. 

Otis  Remick,  at  one  time  a  teacher  in  the  FarweU  school  house, 
near  where  the  village  of  Windsor  now  stands,  enlisted  in  the  first 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS WINDSOR.  263 

regiment  of  three  months'  men,  and  afterwards  in  the  eleventh 
regiment,  in  which  he  was  an  orderly  sergeant,  then  first  lieutenant, 
then  captain,  and  was  finally  commissioned  as  major.  After  the 
war,  Major  Remick  took  up  his  residence  in  New  Orleans,  where  he 
still  resides. 

E.  Ct.  Miller,  who  at  one  time  taught  the  school  in  the  Token 
Creek  district,  also  enlisted  in  the  first  regiment  of  three  months' 
men,  and  was  afterwards  a  captain  in  the  twentieth  regiment.  He 
has  since  been  a  member  of  the  Iowa  State  Senate.  Moulton  De 
Forest  was  a  captain  in  the  eighteenth  regiment.  Newton  De  For- 
est was  first  lieutenant  and  afterwards  major  in  the  second  cavalry. 
Both  these  officers  were  sons  of  I.  N.  De  Forest,  from  whom  the 
village  of  De  Forest  takes  its  name. 

From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  the  town  was  not  behind  its  neigh- 
bors in  doing  its  share  in  that  great  struggle  which  achieved  the 
grand  result  of  proclaiming  liberty  hi  all  the  land. 

The  religious  history  of  the  town  is  interesting.  The  first  preach- 
ing was  by  Rev.  Philip  Eveleth,  a  Congregational  minister,  who 
preached  in  the  old  log  school  house  at  the  foot  of  the  north  side  of 
Token  Creek  hill. 

CHURCHES. 

The  first  church  organized  was  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  Rev. 
E.  R.  Swain,  heretofore  referred  to,  was  the  pastor.  This  church 
was  organized  in  18*46,  and  was  for  a  long  time  the  leading  church 
in  the  town.  Elder  Swain  was  indefatigable  in  his  labors  to  build 
it  up.  In  1S49,  it  was  blessed  with  a  revival  which  added  largely 
to  its  numbers.  Circumstances  being  such,  its  pastor  thought  it 
best  to  seek  another  home,  the  church  having  declined  in  numbers 
until  it  has  but  a  few  left  in  its  organization. 

The  Methodists,  with  their  unconquerable  will  and  their  un- 
quenchable zeal,  have  also  made  the  town  one  of  their  preaching 
places,  and  at  one  time  had  an  organization  there.  The  different 
preachers  of  that  denomination,  who  will  be  well  remembered,  were 
Father  Fox,  Rev.  Geo.  Delamatyr,  Rev.  Mr.  Bunce,  Rev.  Mr.  Bol- 
ton, Rev.  Mr.  Cobbin,  and  others.  Father  Fox  was  an  old  gentle- 
man with  many  eccentricities,  and  many  an  anecdote  of  his  keen 
witted  retorts  are  remembered. 

The  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  April,  1851,  at  the 
Farwell  school  house,  by  Rev.  C.  W.  Matthews,  who  for  a  long  time 
preached  to  them  on  alternate  sabbaths,  supplying  also  the  church  of 


264  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  WINDSOR. 

the  same  denomination  at  Sun  Prairie.  At  its  organization  it  had 
but  six  members.  Kev.  Philip  Eveleth,  who  had  preached  the  first 
sermon  in  the  town,  became  a  member  of  this  church  at  that  time. 
Its  members  were  so  few  that  in  its  infancy  it  was  seriously  con- 
templated that  it  be  disbanded;  but,  in  1853,  it  was  encouraged  by 
the  addition  of  a  few  new  members,  among  whom  were  Deacon 
Warner  and  his  wife,  who  have  since  been  closely  identified  with  it, 
and  took  courage  and  struggled  on.  In  August,  1853,  it  became 
connected  with  the  Madison  District  Convention,  and  Newton  Lewis 
was  its  first  delegate.  In  1855,  this  church  was  farther  strengthened 
by  the  arrival  of  Hon.  W.  H.  Chandler,  who  has  since  been  one  of 
the  prominent  men  of  the  state.  Mr.  Chandler  and  his  wife  were 
for  years  among  the  most  reliable  working  members  of  the  church. 

In  the  spring  of  1858,  a  large  revival  took  place  in  the  town,  in 
which  all  the  churches  united.  Rev.  Almon  Whitman,  pastor  of 
the  Baptist  Church  at  Sun  Prairie,  was  the  preacher  on  this  occas- 
ion. The  spirit  of  unity  at  this  time  was  so  great  that  an  attempt 
was  made  to  abandon  all  the  church  organizations,  and  to  form  a 
union  church.  This  was  only  partially  successful,  as  some,  from 
conscientious  reasons,  were  unwilling  to  abandon  the  churches  they 
had  loved  so  long.  A  union  church  was  formed,  however,  in  which 
every  member  of  the  Congregational  Church  joined,  and  many  of 
the  other  denominations.  This  continued  till  1864,  when,  by  con- 
sent of  all  its  members,  it  was  again  united  to  the  Madison  District 
Convention  of  Congregational  Churches.  In  1858,  it  enjoyed  the 
ministration  of  Rev.  J.  P.  Smith,  then  just  starting  in  his  profes- 
sion, who  is  now  a  missionary  in  Turkey  in  Asia.  Rev.  George 
Delamatyr,  a  Methodist,  and  Rev.  0.  0.  Stearns,  a  Baptist,  for 
some  years  preached  to  the  church.  The  first  steps  to  erect  a  church 
were  taken  in  the  fall  of  1860,  and  Deacon  Warner  spent  the  elec- 
tion day  of  1860  in  asking  subscriptions  for  the  new  enterprise  of  the 
citizens  as  they  came  together  to  exercise  their  rights  as  voters.  The 
church  was  erected  during  the  year  1861,  and  was  dedicated  in 
March,  1862,  Rev.  Mr.  Donaldson,  then  acting  pastor,  preaching 
the  sermon.  The  cost  of  the  edifice  wa?  $1,500,  and  as  church 
debts  were  not  fashionable  then,  it  was  all  paid  for.  Mr.  Donaldson 
lived  at  Beaver  Dam,  and  drove  that  long  distance  in  order  to  meet 
his  appointments.  Rev.  Mr.  Sedgwick  preached  to  the  church  for 
a  tune,  in  1864.    Rev.  C.  M.  Morehouse  preached  in  1865  and  1866. 

In  the  winter  of  1866,  a  large  and  powerful  revival  took  place, 


\ 


DANE   COUNTY    TOWNS  —  WINDSOR.  265 

under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  P.  C.  Pettibone,  of  Beloit.  In  1866 
Rev.  Richard  Hassell  became  the  pastor  of  the  church,  and  con- 
tinued so  for  about  three  years.  Mr.  Hassell  is  now  a  resident  of 
Grinnell,  Iowa.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  S.  13.  Demarest,  who 
remained  about  four  years. 

After  a  short  time  in  which  Rev.  Mr.  Williamson  preached,  the 
church  called  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  W.  A.  Lyman.  Soon  after 
his  coming  there  was  a  revival,  succeeded  by  large  accessions  to  the 
church.  There  has  recently  been  erected,  at  a  spot  about  half-way 
between  the  church  and  the  village  of  Windsor,  a  neat  parsonage 
for  the  use  of  the  pastor. 

In  the  German  settlement,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town  a 
church  was  erected  and  dedicated  in  the  year  1876,  by  the  German 
Methodists.  These  good  people  have  always  been  forward  in  good 
works  hi  the  town.  Mr.  Frederick  Pivian,  a  prominent  member  of 
this  society,  often  officiates  as  pastor. 

There  is  also  in  this  part  of  the  town  a  large  society  of  Primitive 
Lutherans,  that  have  been  organized  as  a  church  for  about  eight 
years,     Rev.  0.  Hill,  recently  from  Illinois,  is  the  present  pastor. 

In  1876  a  Moravian  church  (German)  was  organized  by  Rev. 
William  Slingle,  and  the  site  for  a  church  edifice  selected. 

At  DeForest  there  is  a  large  society  of  Norwegian  Lutherans,  who 
worship  at  Norway  Grove  church,  in  the  town  of  Vienna.  There  is 
a  Norwegian  school  connected  with  the  church,  in  charge  of  T. 
Thomson. 

Among  some  of  the  business  men  not  already  men- 
tioned in  the  preceding  pages  are  the  following: 

Windsor — E.  P.  Sherman,  notary  public  and  agent  for  railroad 
and  express  companies;  T.  O'Deir  and  J.  W.  Vincent,  carpenters; 
Elisha  Lake,  boDt  and  shoemaker.  Robt.  Burrington,  has  recently 
purchased  the  store  occupied  by  H.  B.  Lake,  and  is  adding  consid- 
erable to  its  size  and  convenience.  Mr.  Lake  is  also  engaged  in 
building  a  new  store.  J.  W.  Vincent  has  charge  of  the  Windsor 
Hotel,  where  gaests  will  meet  with  courteous  treatment  and  good 
fare  at  reasonable  rates. 

DeForest — A.  L.  Dahl,  artist;  A.  Nelson,  sewing  machine 
agent  and  bookseller;  K.  Nelson  and  Bros.,  carpenters;  C.  Jah- 
land  and  Bros.,  painters. 


266  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  BERET. 


BERRY. 

BY  OTTO  KERL,  Esq.,  AND  WM.  S.  CROWTHER,  Esq. 

The  town  of  Berry  is  situated  in  the  western  part 
of  Dane  county,  and  lies  south  of  the  town  of  Rox- 
bury,  west  of  the  town  of  Springfield,  north  of  the 
town  of  Cross  Plains,  and  east  of  the  town  of  Black 
Earth.  The  general  character  of  the  town  is  hilly, 
although  there  are  several  rich  valleys,  the  largest 
being  Halfway  Prairie,  which  is  sometimes  called  the 
English  settlement,  and  that  portion  of  Black  Earth 
valley,  which  crosses  the  southwest  corner  of  the  town. 
The  bluffs  are  timbered  with  several  kinds  of  oak, 
cherry  and  poplar,  the  last  being  a  recent  growth,  and 
admirably  adapted  for  fencing.  The  poplars  grow  in 
groves,  long  and  straight,  and  are  cut  when  about  six 
inches  in  thickness,  sawed  into  fencing,  and  consider- 
ed by  many  as  superior  to  pine  fencing.  They  seem 
to  be  especially  provided  by  Providence  for  such  pur- 
poses, as  the  large  oaks,  formerly  used  in  fencing,  are 
all  gone.  The  town  is  abundantly  supplied  with  wa- 
ter, there  being  a  number  of  springs  and  creeks, 
with  several  mill  sites,  one  of  which,  on  the  Black 
Earth  creek,  is  being  improved  for  a  flouring  mill. 
The  climate  is  very  healthy,  there  being  no  stagnant 
water  or  marshes. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BEERY.  267 

The  town  was  first  settled  in  1843,  by  James  Mills, 
Captain  Amos  Heald,  Albert  Skinner,  Joseph  Roger- 
son  and  Hood,  on  Black  Earth  valley,  and  a 

year  or  two  later  by  Mr.  Barnes  and  Mr.  Hyer,  on 
Halfway  Prairie. 

In  1845,  a  large  number  of  English  came  out  under 
a  colonization  society,  which  was  organized  in  the  city 
of  Manchester,  England,  in  1842,  called  the  "  British 
Temperance  Emigration  Society."  They  located  sev- 
eral of  their  claims  in  this  town,  and  the  following 
persons  came  out  in  1845:  John  Whiteman,  John 
Mead,  James  and  William  Bowman,  G-eo.  Draper, 
Francis  "Wilson,  John  Ford,  John  Saville  and  James 
Crowther.  This  last  gentleman  relinquished  his 
claim,  giving  it  away,  saying,  "it  was  dear  at  a  gift," 
and  bought  Albert  Skinner's  farm,  on  section  31, 
which  had  the  first  frame  house  in  the  town.  His 
claim  was  situated  on  what  was  called  "long  break- 
ing," in  the  town  of  Mazomanie,  a  miserable  sandy 
prairie  that  would  not  grow  white  beans.  This  so 
enraged  the  officers  of  the  society  that  they  sent 
word  to  England  that  Mr.  Crowther  had  left  a 
nice  farm  and  gone  and  settled  in  a  swamp  (which, 
by-the-way,  was  every  foot  dry  and  good  land). 
In  after  years,  when  they  would  come  up  to  see 
him,  he  would  say,  "  let  us  go  out  and  see  my 
swamp." 

In  1847,  several  more  English  settled  there,  among 
which  were  Thomas,  Samuel  and  Edward  Barber, 
Thomas  Haynes  and  George  Bates. 


268 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BERRY. 


Many  amusing  incidents  are  remembered  of  these 
early  settlers;  most  of  the  English  coming  from  man- 
ufacturing towns  in  the  old  country,  were,  to  use  a 
phrase,  somewhat  "  green "  respecting  farms  and 
farming,  which  the  following  incident  will  illus- 
trate: Two  parties  (who  afterwards  became  prominent 
and  thrifty  farmers)  came  to  Joseph  Rogerson,  anoth- 
er English  settler,  who  came  out  in  1S43  and  settled 
on  section  32,  to  buy  his  claim.  After  partaking  of 
a  frugal  meal,  which  consisted  of  pork  and  corn  bread, 
the  latter  made  into  the  remembered  "johnny  cake," 
they  went  out  to  see  the  farm,  examine  the  soil,  etc.; 
after  they  got  out  to  the  field,  one  of  them  commenced 
to  jump  and  spring  on  the  ground,  saying  to  Mr. 
Rogerson  "is  this  land  sound?"  The  latter,  in  a 
(feigned)  terrified  air  said,  "  My  G — d,  friend,  do 
not  do  that  or  you  will  go  down  about  twenty  feet." 
It  is  also  related  of  another  who,  before  he  was  "natu- 
ralized," commenced  planting  his  corn,  and  had  about 
an  acre  planted  before  he  found  out  his  mistake;  he 
had  planted  an  ear  in  each  hill. 

In  1847,  the  Germans  first  commenced  to  settle,  the 
first  comers  being  Otto  Kerl  and  Mr.  Anhalt.  They 
rapidly  settled  in,  till  the  whole  town  was  taken  up. 
But  very  few  of  the  old  English  settlers  are  now  alive 
to  tell  the  tale  of  the  trials  and  hardships  of  the  early 
settlement  of  the  town;  most  of  them  have  gone  to 
"  that  bourne  from  whence  no  traveler  returns."  The 
town  now  is  almost  entirely  Germans,  who,  by-the- 
way,  make  our  very  best  citizens. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BEKRY.  269 

111  1849-50  a  number  of  Germans  settled  here,  ana 
the  town  has  continued  to  fill  up  from  time  to  time 
until  it  is  now  almost  all  cleared  and  broken  up  for 
cultivation. 

The  town  was  organized  in  1850,  and  the  first  town 
meeting  held  on  the  2d  day  of  April,  1850.  Twenty- 
four  votes  were  cast,  and  sixty  dollars  raised  for  town 
purposes.  The  names  of  the  voters  were  "Win.  Ses- 
ton,  Otto  Kerl,  John  "W.  Ford,  Thomas  Barber,  George 
Stevens,  Henry  Carden,  John  "Wightman,  John  Savelle, 
George  Draper,  Edward  Barber,  Francis  Wilson, 
Thomas  Hawley,  John  II.  Roberts,  "Wm.  Hawley, 
John  Gray,  Thomas  Haynes,  Joseph  Harrison,  Ed- 
mund Ellis,  Joseph  Bowman,  Samuel  Hawley,  Wil- 
liam Bowman,  John  Mead,  Henry  Paddelford,  Abijah 
Davis.  And  the  following  officers  were  elected :  Su- 
pervisors —  Joseph  Bowman,  chairman  ;  Thomas 
Haynes  and  John  "Wightman.  Town  Clerk  — Samuel 
Hawley.  Treasurer  —  Thomas  Barber.  Justices  of 
the  Peace  —  Thomas  Haynes  and  Joseph  Harrison. 
Superintendent  of  School — Edward  Barber.  Con- 
stables —  Henry  Carden  and  Aug.  Barnes.  Assessor  — 
George  Draper. 

In  those  early  times  there  were  plenty  of  deer,  and 
often  as  many  as  twenty-four  head  at  a  time  were 
seen  feeding  upon  the  fields  of  winter  wheat  sown  by 
the  early  settlers.  The  town  was  a  favorite  resort 
with  the  Indians,  because  of  the  quantity  of  game 
frequenting  this  section  of  country,  and  their  camp 
was  about  one-half  mile  from  my  house.     In  the  fall 


270  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  BERRY. 

of  1848,  about  sixty-five  of  them  and  their  families 
remained  near  my  land,  on  section  27,  for  about  six 
weeks,  killing  deer.  When  they  prepared  to  depart, 
they  loaded  each  of  their  ponies  with  a  fresh  killed 
deer,  which  they  purposed  carrying  to  Milwaukee  to 
sell.  They  made  frequent  visits  to  my  house  for 
flour  and  salt,  and  the  most  friendly  relationship  ex- 
isted between  them  and  my  family,  we  passing  in  and 
out  of  their  camp  as  often  as  opportunity  permitted 
us.  On  one  occasion,  while  I  was  making  hay  near 
their  camp,  three  squaws  came  with  long  sticks  or 
canes  and  helped  turn  the  hay.  When  done,  they 
signified  by  signs  that  they  had  done  so  because  I 
had  given  them  flour  and  salt. 

The  deer  continued  plentiful  for  a  number  of  years, 
but  the  constant  settling  up  of  the  town,  and  the  kill- 
ing of  them,  made  their  appearance  very  scarce,  so 
that  the  last  deer  known  to  have  been  killed  in  the 
town  was  by  myself  in  1856. 

A  frequent  and  very  troublesome  annoyance  to  the 
settlers  was  the  great  number  of  wolves  that  made  the 
night  hideous  with  howling,  and  would  even  attack  the 
stock  if  suitable  care  was  not  taken  to  keep  the  cattle 
in  places  of  safety.  In  the  winter  it  was  sometimes 
unsafe,  even  in  the  day  time,  to  be  unarmed,  as  they 
followed  teams  of  horses  or  oxen,  watching  every 
opportunity  to  attack  them.  One  winter  in  1847, 
between  Christmas  and  New  Year,  Conrad  Scheele, 
a  young  man  living  with  me,  started  out  with  the  ox 
team  and  sleigh  to  go  to  Clark's  Corners,  in  Spring- 


From  Mitchell's  New  School  Geography. 


DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS — BEEEY.         273 

field,  to  get  a  few  bushels  of  potatoes  from  Joseph 
Knippschild,  and  after  being  gone  about  an  hour, 
came  back  to  arm  himself,  because  the  wolves  were  so 
numerous  and  savage  he  could  not  make  any  progress 
on  the  road. 

On  Table  Bluff,  the  highest  bluff  in  the  town,  sec- 
tion 29,  there  are  a  number  of  Indian  mounds  that 
are  in  the  form  of  small  hills,  others  Ions'  or  oblone;, 
while  some  of  them  take  the  shape  of  animals,  such 
as  bears,  snakes,  etc.  On  section  27,  where  my  land 
is,  there  are  several  long  ones,  also  having  the  form  of 
animals. 

There  is  evidence  on  sections  21  and  29  that  the 
aborigines  were  engaged  in  mining  or  digging  for 
some  valuable  minerals  or  flints,  before  the  white  set- 
tlers came  to  this  town.  Large  excavations  are  seen 
showing  where  the  soil  has  been  thrown  out  for  some 
purpose  that  we  are  not  made  aware  of  in  our  time. 
Perhaps  to  obtain  the  copper  masses,  or  boulders  from 
which  they  made  their  tools. 

In  those  days  the  postal  arrangements  in  the  town 
were  not  within  the  requirements  of  our  modern 
conveniences,  and  perhaps  could  not  be  better  told 
than  to  relate  an  incident  that  came  under  my  own 
observation.  The  nearest  post-office  was  Madison, 
and  letters  for  the  town  of  Berry  had  to  come  over 
the  Sauk  road,  by  way  of  Mr.  Dunlap's,  then  some- 
time afterwards  it  would  be  carried  from  there  to 
Cross  Plains,  and  then  to  Mr.  Thomas,  who  was 
postmaster,  on  section  10.  A  friend  and  myself 
calling  for  letters  at  his  house  were  informed  by  Mrs. 
18 


271  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BERRY. 

Thomas  that  her  husband  was  in  the  meadow  haying, 
where  we  went  and  found  him  mowing  with  a  sickle 
one  foot  long  After  the  compliments  of  the  day  were 
passed,  we  asked  if  there  wrere  any  letters  for  us.  lie 
replied  that  he  would  see,  and  sitting  down  on  his 
haunches  he  very  carefully  with  both  hands  took  oft 
his  hat  (which  was  a  genuine  stovepipe  of  no  very 
recent  style),  tumbled  out  a  number  of  letters  on 
the  ground,  looked  them  over  for  us,  and  then  re- 
placed the  hat  and  its  contents  on  his  head.  We  were 
Germans,  but  we  had  never  seen  a  portable  post-office 
before,  nor  had  any  conceptions  of  the  weighty  corres- 
pondence of  many  heads  being  carried  in  one,  and 
then  covered  with  a  stovepipe  hat;  but  that  was  the 
post-office  of  Cross  Plains. 

The  nearest  mills  that  we  had  were  Hickoeks',  in 
Iowa  county,  Sugar  River  Mill,  and  the  Lodi  Mill; 
and  the  inconvenience  of  the  early  settlers  in  getting 
their  wheat  gristed  was  sometimes  scarcely  possible 
in  cur  times  to  imagine.  On  one  occasion,  I  carried 
a  grist  to  Hickoeks'  Mill  and  found  the  mill  stopped 
and  undergoing  repair;  I  then  started  for  the  mill  at 
Sugar  River,  but  found  that  also  broken  down  and 
repairing,  which  ultimately  compelled  me  to  go  to 
Janesville,  before  I  could  get  my  wheat  gristed; 
occupying  about  six  days  going  and  returning.  Mr. 
John  Cropper  started  a  mill  at  Halfway  Prairie  creek 
in  1863,  but  afterwards  moved  it  to  Mazomanie. 

In  1852,  I  started  a  brewery,  and  continued  in  the 
business  until  1861.  In  1862,  George  Esser  also 
started  a  brewery,  and  has  built  up  a  large  business. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BERRY.  275 

111  the  southeast  part  of  the  town  there  is  a  large 
Catholic  church,  built  of  stone,  and  with  a  fine  spire 
tkat  can  be  seen  for  miles  around.  The  present 
pastor  is  the  Rev.  John  Friode,  a  well  educated  and 
sociable  gentleman.  There  is  also  a  Catholic  school 
connected  with  the  church.  In  the  center  of  the 
town  there  is  a  German  Lutheran  church,  under  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schenk,  of  Middleton. 
The  town  has  six  school  districts. 

The  first  store  in  town  was  kept  by  Hartwig 
Meyer,  at  Halfway  Prairie;,  and  for  several  years  Mr. 
Christian  Henrichs  also  kept  a  store  at  the  above 
place.     There  is  no  store  at  present. 

The  town  is  well  supplied  with  stone  for  building 
purposes;  and  Mr.  Peter  Rouls  has  a  lime  kiln,  and 
supplies  the  neighborhood  with  burned  lime. 

The  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  runs 
through  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town.  In  Half- 
way Prairie  there  is  a  little  village  called  Meyer's  Cor- 
ners, where  are  two  saloons,  one  kept  by  Aug.  Rie- 
ward,  and  the  other  by  Herman  Schneyer;  two  black- 
smith's shops,  one  by  August  Hagemann,  and  the 
other  by  John  Hagemann ;  one  wagon  shop,  kept  by 
Jacob  Back;  one  shoe  shop,  kept  by  Carl  Schuman; 
and  one  tailor,  Chris.  Luetzow. 

On  sections  two  and  eleven  there  is  a  lake  known 
as  Indian  Lake,  that  has  no  apparent  outlet.  It  was 
much  frequented  by  the  Indians  for  fishing  and  hunt- 
ing, but  of  late  years,  they  soldom  visit  it,  although 
many  of  the  citizens  still  continue  to  hunt  here.  From 
having  dried  up,  it  is  not  as  larjre  as  formerlv. 


276  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  COTTAGE    GROVE. 


COTTAGE  GROVE. 

BY  JAS.  BELL,  ESQ. 

The  town  of  Cottage  Grove  is  situated  eight  miles 
east  of  the  city  of  Madison,  in  Dane  county.  It  is 
designated  on  the  government  surveys  as  town  seven, 
north,  range  eleven,  east.  The  general  face  of  the 
country  is  somewhat  rolling;  the  quality  of  the  soil  is 
good  and  productive;  partially  prairie  and  some 
oak  openings,  with  considerable  marsh  or  meadow 
land,  yielding  excellent  hay  and  pasturage;  it  is  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Fine  farm  houses 
and  barns  meet  the  traveler  at  almost  every  turn  of  the 
road,  indicating  thrift  and  social  independence.  The 
first  purchase  of  land  from  the  goverment  in  the  town- 
ship was  in  1838,  by  Phillip  Kerney,  on  sections  eight 
and  ten.  In  1840,  ¥m.  C.  Wells,  Amos  Harris  and 
Horatio  Catlin  entered  their  lands  in  sections  seven, 
eight  and  nine. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Amos  Beecher,  April  6, 1817,  when,  on  motion  of  Rev. 
J.  G.  Kanouse,  Horatio  Catlin  was  chosen  chairman, 
S.  H.  Adsit  and  Orsamus  McCray,  judges  of  election, 
and  Rufus  Howard  clerk.  The  towns  of  Deerfield 
and  Cottage  Grove  were  then  together  for  political 
purposes,  and  at  that  meeting  there  were  seventy-one 
votes  cast,  and  the  following  town  officers  were  de- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS COTTAGE    GKOVE.  277 

clared  duly  elected:  Supervisors  —  Henry  L.  Bush, 
chairman,  A.  E.  Adsit,  J.  W.  Butts.  Clerk  —  Fred- 
erick A.  Mitchell.  Assessors  —  John  Sunderman, 
Lucius  Loss  and  M.  W.  Adsit.  Justices  of  the  Peace 
—  Edmund  P.  Butts,  J.  H.  Clyde,  Charles  Drakeley. 
Commissioners  of  Highways  —  Molton  J.  Hammond, 
Samuel  Halawork,  E.  Sampson.  School  Commis- 
sioners—  E.  D.  Kanouse,  John  Barker,  Eli  Sperry. 
Collector  —  Isaac  Beecher.  Constables  —  Isaac  Beech  - 
er,  E.  A.  Sperry,  George  S.  Butler.  Sealer  of 
Weights  and  Measures  —  John  Deline.  Fence  View- 
ers—  Amos  Harris,  Allen  Kanouse,  Orsamus  McCray. 
These  men  constituted  the  first  town  officers. 

On  the  20th  day  of  April,  1849,  the  towns  of  Cot- 
tage Grove  and  Deerfield,  by  mutual  agreement,  sep- 
arated their  political  connection  by  the  action  of  their 
supervisors,  who  on  the  part  of  Cottage  Grove  were, 
Charles  Drakeley  and  Lewis  WaldrufF;  on  the  part  of 
Deerfield,  Allen  Adsit  and  Emery  Sampson.  H.  M. 
Warner  was  town  clerk. 

Cottage  Grove  received  its  name  from  a  burr  oak 
grove,  in  the  midst  of  which  a  public  house  was  built, 
and  where  the  post  office  was  established  in  1838,  with 
Vm.  C.  Wells  as  post  master.  There  are  now  two 
post  offices  in  the  town,  the  one  at  Cottage  Grove,  on 
the  road  leading  from  Madison  to  Watertown,  and  the 
other  at  Door  Creek,  on  the  west  end  of  Liberty  Prai- 
rie, eleven  miles  from  the  city  of  Madison,  southeast, 
on  the  road  from  Madison  to  Milwaukee,  by  way  of 
Cambridge  and  Fort  Atkinson.     Liberty  Prairie  cov- 


27S  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS COTTAGE    GEOVE. 

ers  about  five  sections  in  tlie  soutli  half  of  the  town,  and 
called  so  by  a  number  of  citizens  who  assembled  on 
the  highest  eminence  on  the  prairie  to  celebrate  the 
Fourth  of  July,  and,  from  the  exuberance  of  their 
spirits,  together,  it  is  said,  with  something  from  a  lit- 
tle brown  jug,  that  on  looking  around  on  the  beautiful 
prairie,  they  became  so  enchanted  with  the  sight, 
they  involuntarily  cried  out  "Liberty  Prairie."  Thus 
one  of  the  richest  and  most  beautiful  prairies  in  the 
state  received  its  christening.  There  are  three  organ- 
ized churches  in  the  town,  each  having  a  fine  house 
of  worship,  the  Presbyterian,  Methodist  and  German 
Lutherans.  The  Presbyterian  church  was  organized 
by  the  Rev.  John  G.  Kanouse,  in  1845,  at  the  house 
of  Horatio  Catlin,  his  wife  being  an  active  member 
of  the  church,  and  his  house  the  only  "meeting  house" 
in  the  town.  Mr.  Kanouse  was  minister  for  nearly 
twenty-five  years,  until  his  death  on  the  30th  day  of 
May,  1870.  Since  his  death  the  pulpit  has  been  filled 
by  several  eminent  divines,  such  as  Wm.  Hendrick- 
son,  Lemuel  Leonard,  O.  P.  Thompson  and  others. 
The  Methodist  church,  in  Cottage  Grove  village,  was 
organized  at  the  house  of  Amos  Beecher,  in  1S16,  by 
Rev.  Matthew  Fox  and  Rev.  Mr.  Montgomery  with 
Laura  Robinson,  Samuel  G.  Curtis  and  Thomas  At- 
kins as  "charter  members."  The  Methodist  church 
on  Liberty  Prairie  was  organized  shortly  after  by  Sam- 
uel Dodge  and  L.  D.  Kelly.  The  former  has  long 
since  gone  to  his  reward,  the  latter  is  still  in  active 
life  and  engaged  on  his  farm.     The  German  Lutherans 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS— COTTAGE    GROVE.  279 

organized  since  the  other  two;  have  a  large  and  intel- 
ligent congregation,  and  a  fine   house  of  worship. 

The  Evangelical  Association  is  strongly  represented 
in  the  town,  though  their  church  is  situated  just 
across  the  line,  in  Blooming  Grove.  They  purpose 
at  some  early  day  building  a  new  church  in  the  town, 
where  three-fourths  of  the  membership  reside.  The 
church  was  first  organized  in  1853,  in  the  house  of  C. 
F.  UphofF,  on  section  19,  and  where  services  were  held 
for  a  number  of  years,  with  Rev.  Henry  Roggats  as 
pastor.     They  are  now  in  a  very  prosperous  condition. 

Schools  are  well  attended  and  well  provided  for; 
the  census  of  1875,  shows  a  population  of  1,430  in- 
habitants, the  foreign  element  being  largely  repre- 
sented. The  village  of  Cottage  Grove  is  located  on 
section  seven;  it  consists  of  the  post  office,  one  store 
of  general  merchandise,  two  blacksmith  shops,  one 
harness  shop,  one  wagon  maker,  two  churches,  a  school 
house  and  quite  a  cluster  of  dwelling  houses. 

In  1841,  General  Dodge  passed  through  the  village 
and  put  up  at  the  Beecher  tavern.  His  military  ca- 
reer was  well  known  among  the  early  settlers,  and 
with  none  more  so  than  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beecher,  who 
resolved  on  setting  a  table  worthy  of  their  distin- 
guished guest.  But  the  old  general  had  endured  too 
many  privations,  and  too  many  homely  fares  to  be 
disturbed  in  his  usual  method  of  dieting,  and  so  re- 
galed himself  with  bread,  potatoes  and  pork,  leaving 
all  the  "fixings "  untouched.  His  room  had  been 
prepared  with  extra  care,  and  with  an  eye  to  modern 


280  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  COTTAGE    GROVE. 

comfort  and  ease  in  the  way  of  a  good  feather  bed 
and  pillows.  But  the  general  had  pillowed  his  head 
on  the  soft  side  of  a  hard  board  many  a  time,  and  so 
asked  the  good  lady,  to  her  utter  amazement,  to  sup- 
ply him  with  some  comfort  by  the  removal  of  the 
feather  bed,  and  the  substitution  of  one  of  straw, 
which  with  him  wras  deemed  a  luxury. 

In  old  stage  times,  and  before  access  by  rail  to 
Madison  had  been  accomplished,  Cottage  Grove  was 
one  of  the  relay  and  resting  places  for  the  members  of 
the  legislature  going  to  and  returning  from  Madi- 
son, and  many  a  pleasant  reminiscence  is  associated 
with  Cottage  Grove  and  the  many  guests  and  mem- 
bers who  made  mine  host  Beecher's  house  their 
abode,  but  which  our  space  forbids  enumerating  at 
present,  further  than  to  record  one  notable  circum- 
stance. In  1841,  a  number  of  the  early  settlers  agreed 
to  have  a  social  dance  at  Amos  Beecher's  tavern,  and 
to  show  the  extent  and  distance  the  guests  came  from, 
it  is  stated  that  H.  W.  Wales,  Mr.  Brown,  G.  H. 
Walker,  were  from  Milwaukee;  Mr.  Hogan,  from  Wa- 
terloo; James  Fran,  from  Fort  Atkinson;  Harris  and 
Charles  Lawrence,  from  Token  Creek,  and  a  large 
number  from  Madison.  A  noticeable  event  of  the 
evening  was,  that  Mrs.  Davis,  who  weighed  about  200 
pounds,  and  Mr.  G.  IT.  Walker,  who  weighed  about 
250  pounds,  were  the  two  leading  dancers  of  the  even- 
ing, displaying  more  ease  and  elegance  of  deportment 
in  the  mazes  of  the  ball  room  than  those  with  less 
corporeal  incumbrance. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS COTTAGE    GKOVE.  281 

Through  the  energy  of  our  Good  Templar  Lodge, 
there  is  a  pleasing  feature  throughout  the  township 
that  there  is  not  a  place  where  ardent  spirits  are  sold, 
nor  has  there  been  for  a  series  of  years,  although  this 
was  not  always  the  case.  Whisky,  as  in  all  new  coun- 
tries, used  to  be  plenty,  and  highly  prized,  so  much 
so,  that  at  a  town  meeting  the  electors  passed  a  "  resolu- 
tion" that  hereafter  hogs  should  be  restrained  from 
running  at  large,  but  "whisky  was  to  run  free,"  and 
in  those  times  it  did  run  freely.  There  is  a  very  fine 
Grange  Hall  in  the  town,  No.  97,  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry. 

No  streams  of  water  of  any  great  volume  are  in  the 
town,thoiigh  Door  and  Koshkonong:  creeks  run  through 
the  town,  but  not  of  sufficient  size  for  mill  privileges. 
The  township  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and 
is  extremely  well  located  for  markets.  It  is  remark- 
ably healthy,  having  a  pure  atmosphere,  good  water 
and  plenty,  and  no  miasmatic  swamps  to  create  fevers 
and  agues.  There  are  no  natural  curiosities,  such  as 
caves  or  large  mounds,  although  there  are  plenty  of 
ancient  indications.  On  section  four,  on  the  land  of 
Albert  Gaston,  there  were  some  ancient.  Indian  relics. 

Politically,  Cottage  Grove  has  not  been  behind  the 
times  in  contributing  her  share  of  public  men.  She 
has  given  the  state  a  governor,  state  senators  and 
state  legislators,  and  in  the  late  civil  war,  Cottage 
Grove  sent  105  men  to  the  field;  twenty-two  of  them 
left  their  bones  on  southern  battle  fields.  Any  per- 
son wishing  to  locate  in  this  part  of  Wisconsin  can- 


2S2  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS COTTAGE    GROVE. 

not  do  better.  Here  we  have  the  best  of  society,  the 
best  of  churches  and  school  privileges,  a  good,  healthy 
climate,  good  water,  good  markets,  good  soil,  and  just 
far  enough  from  the  capital  city  for  a  good,  pleasant 
drive,  accessible  to  three  or  four  depots  in  thirty 
minutes  drive.  To  the  visitor  the  drive  from  Cottage 
Grove  Corners  to  the  city  of  Madison  is  truly  lovely 
and  enjoyable;  for  a  greater  part  of  the  distance  there 
is  a  full  view  of  the  city  and  the  beautiful  lakes  Wau- 
besa,  Monona  and  Mendota,  with,  their  bays  and 
streamlets,  and  the  Catfish  river,  with  its  many  wind- 
ings through  natural  meadows.  The  road  leads  for 
about  two  miles  along  the  shore  of  Monona,  where  a 
lovely  white  sand  beach  affords  facilities  for  good 
bathing  or  gathering  of  shell  and  pebbles.  If  a  little 
touch  of  the  hand  of  art  was  added  to  what  nature  has 
already  done,  it  would  cast  Long  Branch  into  the  shade. 
To  the  seeker  after  pleasure  and  health,  we  would  say, 
God  has  created  few  lovelier  or  more  healthful  spots 
than  Dane  county,  and  the  town  of  Cottage  Grove, 
for  here  will  be  found  health  and  pleasures  to  overflow- 
ing. 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  ALBION.  283 


ALBION. 

BY  PKOF.  A.  R.  CORNWALL. 

The  town  of  Albion  received  its  name  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Isaac  Brown,  in  honor  of  his  former  place 
of  residence  in  the  state  of  New  York.  Considerable 
discussion  arose  as  to  which  name,  Albion  or  Salem, 
should  be  given  to  the  town,  when  some  of  the  En 
glish  settlers  came  in  and  battled  for  Albion,  the  name 
Caesar  gave  to  their  native  island.  Freeborn  Sweet 
was  the  first  settler.  He  came  from  Oneida  count}', 
N.  Y.,  in  August,  1841.  In  September  of  the  same 
year,  Bjorn  Anderson  and  Amnnd  Anderson,  from 
Norway,  settled  on  section  2.  The  same  fall,  Samuel 
T.  Stewart,  of  Massachusetts,  settled  on  section  11. 

In  September,  1812,  Jesse  Saunders  and  Duty  J. 
Greene,  from  Alleghany  county,  N.  Y.,  settled  on  sec- 
tion 22,  on  what  has  since  been  called  Saunders  Creek, 
where  the  village  of  Albion  now  stands.  In  June, 
1813,  Solomon  Head,  Adin  Burdick,  James  Weed, 
and  Hiram  Bently,  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood. 
On  the  22d  of  June,  1813,  a  "  Seventh  Day  Baptist 
Church"  was  organized,  Rev.  O.  P.  Hull,  first  pastor. 
Among  the  early  settlers  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
town  were  the  Marsdens,  Clarks,  Halls,  Busseys,  Sla- 
ters, Humphreys,  Rev.  James  Wileman,  William 
Short,  John  Bullis,  and  several  families  of  Norths. 


284  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS ALBION. 

These  settlers  soon  organized  a  Primitive  Metho- 
dist Church,  with  Rev.  Marsden  as  first  minister. 
Jesse  Saunders  opened  the  first  store;  Duty  J.  Greene 
the  first  hotel.  The  first  school  was  opened  by 
voluntary  contribution  in  1844.  The  Seventh  Day 
Baptist  meeting  house  was  built  in  1861,  while  Rev. 
T.  E.  Babcock  was  pastor.  In  1868,  the  Episcopal 
Methodists  erected  a  beautiful  house  of  worship  two 
miles  from  the  village  of  Albion.  Since  then,  in  the 
same  neighborhood  of  the  Episcopal  church,  the  Prim- 
itive Methodists  have' built  a  handsome  brick  church. 
This  church  is  near  a  beautiful  lake,  and  altogether 
this  community  has  one  of  the  pleasantest  locations 
in  southern  Wisconsin. 

Albion  Academy  was  founded  in  1854.  This  in- 
stitution has  become  one  of  the  foremost  academies  in 
the  northwest.  There  are  three  large  brick  blocks 
situated  in  the  center  of  a  twelve  acre  park,  which 
constitutes  the  centre  of  the  village.  The  corporate 
property  of  the  academy  is  valued  at  $75,000.  The 
courses  of  instruction  embrace  a  six  years'  course  in 
Greek  and  Latin;  four  years'  course  in  mathematics; 
an  extensive  course  in  metaphysics;  natural  science; 
Normal  course  —  a  regulai^  professorship  in  instru- 
mental music,  vocal  music,  elocution,  bookkeeping, 
penmanship,  etc.  A  faculty  of  ten  teachers  constant- 
ly employed.  Nothing  wdiatever  sectarian  is  con- 
nected with  the  school.  There  is  an  annual  attend- 
ance reaching  from  250  to  325.  A  large  number  of 
Scandinavian  young  people  have  been  educated  here. 


fcd 

O 

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a 

d 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS ALBION.  287 

They  ave  as  a  rule  excellent  scholars,  and  of  indus- 
trious habits.  Rev.  T.  R.  Williams  D.D.,  now  of 
Alfred.  University,  was  the  first  principal.  He  re- 
mained in  the  institution  six  years,  from  1851  to  18G0. 
In  1856,  he  was  joined  by  A.  R.  Cornwall,  A.M.,  a 
graduate  of  Union  College,  as  associate  principal. 
Prof.  Williams  retired  from  the  academy  in  1860 ;  since 
that  time  Prof.  Cornwall  has  been  at  the  head  of  the 
institution.  The  academy  has  a  fine  cabinet  in  nat- 
ural history.  The  three  literary  societies  have  each  a 
fine  hall.  The  recitation  rooms  are  ample.  The  in- 
stitution receives  no  aid  whatever,  but  relies  entirely 
on  a  small  tuition  from  each  student.  A  laro-e  num- 
ber  of  teachers  are  trained  for  the  public  schools,  and 
some  of  the  foremost  teachers  in  the  state  have  been 
educated  here.  Hon.  C.  R.  Head,  M.D.,  has  been  pres- 
ident of  the  trustees  during  the  twenty-three  years  of 
its  existence.  He  has  contributed  largely  and  been 
one  of  the  foremost  in  building  up  the  school.  Jesse 
Saunders  has  been  a  trustee  from  the  beginning,  and 
one  of  the  main  supporters. 

Albion  is  one  of  the  pleasantest  villages  in  the 
northwest;  healthy,  and  surrounded  by  a  rich  farm- 
ing country.  No  intoxicating  liquors  were  ever  sold 
in  the  town.  Expenses  of  students  are  less  than  any 
where  else  in  the  country.  For  the  education  of 
young  men  and  women,  few  places  offer  equal  advan- 
tages. A  summer  school  of  natural  history  will  be 
connected  with  the  academy,  managed  by  Prof.  Thure 
Kumlien. 


2S8  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS ALBION. 

Lakes.  —  On  tlie  borders  of  Koslikonong  Prairie  is 
a  beautiful  lake  called  Rice  Lake,  a  mile  and  one-half 
in  length  and  three-fourths  of  a  mile  wide.  The  town 
of  Albion  also  borders  on  Koslikonong  lake,  which  is 
nine  miles  in  length  and  three  to  four  miles  in  width. 
Rock  river  flows  through  the  entire  length  of  the  lake, 
making  its  waters  pure,  and  attracting  to  the  lake  im- 
mense quantities  of  migratory  birds  and  of  fishes. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  noted  lakes  for  game  in  the 
northwest.  Amateur  hunters  from  London,  Boston, 
New  .York,  St.  Louis,  Chicago  and  other  cities,  visit 
this  lake  annually.  Gen.  Sheridan  has  often  tried  his 
hand  here,  but  rumor  has  it  that  he  has  better  lnek 
in  catching  Indians  with  his  "black  charger,"  on  the 
fly,  than  wild  ducks  and  geese  on  the  wing. 

A  four  thousand  dollar  steamer  will  be  put  on  this 
lake  by  the  first  of  June.  The  steamer  is  nearly  com  - 
pleted  —  is  being  constructed  by  Messrs.  Burdick  & 
Lanphere,  for  pleasure  excursions  on  the  lake  and 
river.  It  will  have  a  65  foot  keel,  12  foot  beam, 
double  deck  and  pilot  house;  first  deck,  20x90  feet; 
second  deck,  20x60  feet,  and  a  cabin  12x24  feet.  The 
boat  will  have  a  new  18-horse  power  engine,  built 
especially  for  steamers,  and  will  be  capable  of  carry- 
ing from  250  to  300  persons.  It  will  be  as  strong 
and  perfectly  safe  in  every  respect  as  regular  passen- 
ger steamers,  and  elegantly  finished  and  furnished 
complete.  Koslikonong  lake  is  the  paradise  of  the 
naturalist.  On  its  bosom  are  wild  ducks  innumera- 
ble; also  geese,  cormorants,  pelicans,  swans,  and  all 
the  varieties  of   smaller   birds    found  in   the  north- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS ALBION.  2S9 

west  are  on  its  margin.  It  is  claimed  that  one 
hundred  tons  of  fish  are  taken  from  its  waters  in  a 
single  season.  This  lake  is  known  all  over  the  globe, 
chiefly  through  Prof.  Kumlien,  who  has  furnished 
specimens  in  natural  history  taken  from  it  for  a  good 
many  universities  and  museums,  in  the  old  world  as 
well  as  in  this  country.  The  specimens  in  our  normal 
schools  are  found  here  and  prepared  by  him. 

Business.  —  E.  L.  Burdick  has  a  large  dry  goods 
store,  and  keeps  a  large  assortment  of  dry  goods,  gro- 
ceries, boots  and  shoes,  hardware,  drugs  and  medi- 
cines. Commercial  agents  call  him  one  of  their  most 
reliable  customers.  Miller  &  Gibson  have  a  wao-on 
and  blacksmith  shop,  and  do  a  large  amount  of  work. 
Jesse  Greene  has  a  blacksmith  shop,  is  a  genial  fellow 
and  does  good  work.  Burdick  &  Lanphere  have  a 
steam  mill,  and  deal  in  bent^ lumber;  are  manufac- 
turers of  wagons  and  sleighs.  They  also  deal  largely 
in  picture  frames.  Collins  &  Spencer,  dealers  in 
pictures  and  picture  frames,  are  doing  a  lively  busi- 
ness. A.  B.  Campbell,  harness  maker,  has  a  fine 
shop.  He  also  has  a  shop  at  Middleton  and  one  at 
Alden,  Minn.,  and  does  a  thriving  business.  A.  R. 
Greene,  general  traveling  salesman  for  the  Fox  Biver 
Manufacturing  Co.,  Dayton,  111.,  for  the  states  of 
"Wisconsin,  Iowa  and  Minnesota.  G.  B.  Huntington 
is  a  well  known  dealer  in  improved  stock.  Albion  is 
one  of  the  best  tobacco  growino;  towns  in  southern 
"Wisconsin.  In  building  up  the  village,  Jesse  Saunders 
has  done  more,  by  way  of  selling  lots  at  reasonable 
19 


290  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS ALBION. 

prices,  and  erecting  buildings,  than  any  other  one 
man.  Dr.  C.  R.  Head  has  been  a  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful physician  for  more  than  twenty-five  years,  and 
is  well  known  throughout  the  state.  The  Burdick 
Brothers,  builders,  do  a  large  amount  of  work.  Vis- 
itors to  Albion  will  find  a  nice  home  at  the  Bandall 
House,  and  can  visit  the  lake  at  will. 


DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS PERRY.         291 


TERRY. 

BY  GABRIEL  BJORNSON,  Esq. 

This  town  was  named  in  honor  of  Commodore 
Perry,  and  is  the  southwest  township  in  Dane  county, 
adjoining  Iowa  county  on  the  west,  and  Green  county 
on  the  south.  The  soil  in  this  town  consists  mostly 
of  light  openings,  and  partly  of  choice  natural  mead- 
ows, yielding  the  best  kind  of  natural  grasses  for 
stock.  It  is  abundantly  supplied  with  good,  clear 
water  from  beauciful  sparkling  springs,  and  several 
beautiful  small  streams,  emptying  into  the  Pecatonica 
river,  having  their  sources  from  springs  of  water  in 
the  town.  Its  surface  is  what  is  usually  termed  un- 
dulating or  rolling;  but  the  soil  (with  the  exception 
of  a  few  stony  ridges)  is  mostly  of  a  good  quality, 
and  well  adapted  both  for  dairy  and  grain  farms. 

The  first  settler  was  one  John  Brown,  a  native  of 
Indiana,  who  in  the  spring  of  1846  settled  on  section 
27.  Soon  after,  John,  Hobart  and  Anton  Keller, 
three  brothers,  from  Germany,  came  into  the  town 
and  settled  on  sections  3  and  10.  The  next  settlers 
were  Shute  Rudy  and  John  Sears,  from  Kentucky; 
John  Eastman,  from  Ohio,  and  S.  H.  Campbell,  from 
Virginia,  who,  in  the  year  1847,  settled  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  town.  In  the  early  part  of  the  year 
1818,  B.  F.  Denson,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  set- 


292  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS PEEET. 

tied  on  section  34.  In  the  summer  of  the  same  year 
several  Norwegian  families  moved  in,  of  whom  Lars 
llalvorson  and  T.  Thompson  settled  on  section  17; 
Hans  Johnson,  on  section  20,  and  Ole  O.  Bakken,  on 
section  1.  The  above  named  persons  may  properly 
be  considered  the  pioneers  of  the  town ;  and  of  those, 
only  Ole  O.  Bakken  now  remain,  the  rest  having 
moved  away.  JST.  W.  Denson  was  the  first  white 
child  born  in  the  town,  March  19,  1818,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Eastman  was  born  April  11th  of  the 
same  year. 

This  town  has  a  serious  drawback,  on  account  of 
its  long  distance  from  railroad  communicatio7i,  being 
situated  in  the  center,  between  several  railroad  sta- 
tions, none  of  which  is  nearer  than  twenty  miles  from 
its  center;  but  there  now  seem  to  be  strong  hopes  of 
a  narrow  guage  railway  at  no  very  distant  day,  to 
be  built  through  the  village  of  Blanchardville  (from 
Freeport,  Illinois,  to  Lone  Rock,  Iowa  county,  Wis.). 
Blanchardville  is  a  thriving  village,  located  about 
three  miles  southwest  from  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  town,  in  the  town  of  Blanchard,  La  Fayette  county. 
There  is  also  a  village,  named  Moscow,  located  about 
two  miles  southwest  from  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  town  of  Perry.  Both  of  these  places  have  good 
grist  mills  and  other  conveniences  usually  found  in 
villages  —  such  as  postoffice,  churches,  school  houses, 
traders,  mechanics,  etc.  The  village  of  Moscow  is 
located  on  the  Blue  Mounds'  branch  of  the  Pecaton- 
iea  river,  and  the   village  of  Blanchardville  on  the 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS PERKY.  293 

Pecatonica  river,  where  the  Blue  Mounds  branch 
empties  into  it. 

The  first  church  in  the  town  was  built  in  1851,  on 
sec.  8,  and  belonged  to  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  de- 
nomination. The  style  and  size  of  this  church  struc- 
ture exhibits  in  a  striking  degree  the  simplicity  of 
pioneer  life,  and  the  modest  pretensions  of  that  day. 
It  was  built  of  logs,  and  its  size  only  twenty  feet  square. 
It  also  served  as  a  school  house  until  the  fall  of  1852, 
when  the  first  one  was  built  in  the  town.  This  school 
house  was  of  small  dimensions,  hastily  constructed  of 
rude  logs,  and  located  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east 
of  where  Daley's  store  now  stands,  on  section  8. 

Town  of  Perry  was  at  first  joined  to  town  of  Prim- 
rose for  township  system  of  government,  but  in  the 
winter  of  1854  was  organized  as  a  separate  town  and 
had  its  own  government.  At  the  first  town  election, 
A.  Sanderson,  one  of  the  early  settlers,  was  elected 
chairman,  and  O.  B.  Daley,  town  clerk.  To  exhibit 
an  instance  as  a  remarkable  contrast  between  early 
pioneer  life  and  the  present  day,  in  relation  to 
choosing  officers,  and  to  show  that  the  offices  sought 
the  men,  instead  of  the  men  the  offices,  in  those  good 
old  times,  may  be  mentioned  the  fact,  that,  at  the  first 
town  election,  O.  B.  Daley,  Esq.,  was  elected  town 
clerk,  justice  of  the  peace,  superintendent  of  schools 
and  town  treasurer. 

The  nationalities  settling  in  said  town,  since  1848, 
have  been  mostly  Norwegians  and  Germans,  and 
these  are  now  the  only  remaining  nationalities  there- 


294  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS PERRY. 

in;  about  three-fourths  of  the  population  of  said 
town  being  Norwegian,  and  one-fourth  German,  the 
other  nationalities  having  all  moved  away. 

The  town,  politically,  is  noted  for  its  casting  a  large 
republican  vote,  the  Norweigian  portion  of  its  citizens 
voting  that  ticket,  while  the  Germans  adhere  to  the 
democratic  party  with  equal  distinctiveness. 

The  town,  on  account  of  its  detached  situation 
from  the  rest  of  the  business  world,  had,  during  the 
first  years  of  its  existence,  to  suffer  considerable  in- 
convenience in  relation  to  mail  communications.  The 
nearest  postoffice  was  at  Blue  Mounds,  where  Ebene- 
zer  Brigham  was  postmaster;  and  to  relieve  the  in- 
habitants of  Ferry  and  vicinity,  somewhat,  a  sort  of 
private  mail  communication  was  established  by  the 
citizens,  by  which  they  hired  a  person  as  mail  carrier 
who  each  week,  brought  the  mail  matter  from  Blue 
Mounds  postoffice,  for  all  of  those  in  the  town  of 
Perry  and  vicinity,  who  had  joined  in  paying  the  ex- 
penses for  this  private  mail  establishment.  On  this 
occasion  O.  B.  Daley,  Esq.,  was  selected  postmaster, 
to  distribute  and  receive  the  mail.  This  mail  service 
was  kept  up  until  1857,  when  a  special  mail  route 
was  established  through  the  town,  with  the  appoint- 
ment of  A.  Sanderson  as  postmaster.  He  served  as 
postmaster  until  1871,  at  which  time  a  regular  mail 
route,with  a  semi-weekly  mail, was  established  through 
the  town,  and  O.  B.  Daley,  Esq.,  residing  on  section 
8,  was  appointed  postmaster.  On  section  23  there 
was  another  postoffice  established   at  Forward,  with 


DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS PEEEY.         295 

Christian  Evenston  as  postmaster.  He  is  also  en- 
gaged in  the  sale  of  merchandise. 

The  town  has  no  village,  but  O.  B.  Daley,  Esq.,  has 
established  a  trading  and  general  business  place  on 
section  8,  where  he  has  kept  a  well  furnished  store 
since  1853.  In  close  proximity  to  him  is  a  commo- 
dious church  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  denomina- 
tion, erected  in  1860,  together  with  the  parsonage  of 
the  pastor.  Rev.  P.  M.  Brodahl  was  the  first  regular 
pastor  of  the  church,  and  served  as  such  from  the 
summer  of  1856  till  the  summer  of  1868,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Norway.  Rev.  A.  Jacobson  is  the  present 
pastor,  and  has  served  since  1868.  The  church  is  in 
a  flourishing  condition,  and  its  pastor  is  well  liked, 
and  faithfully  attends  to  his  pastoral  duties. 

There  is  also  near  Daley's  store  a  beautiful  and 
commodious  frame  school  house,  which  has  the  last 
few  years  taken  the  place  of  the  old  log  school  house, 
the  first  school  house  in  the  town.  There  is  a  wagon 
and  blacksmith  shop  conducted  by  Errick  Henderick- 
son  and  Ole  E.  Stam,  while  Dr.  William  McFarlane 
has  settled  in  this  town,  and  is  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  the  place  of  Dr.  C.  B.  J.  Hersch, 
who  for  a  number  of  years  was  the  settled  physician 
in  town,  thus  making  the  place  conliguous  to  Daley's 
store  a  lively  place  as  a  hamlet. 

There  are  now  three  churches  in  the  town,  two  be- 
longing to  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  denomination, 
and  one  German  Catholic.  There  are  five  organized 
school  districts,  besides  parts  of  districts  adjoining 
other  towns. 


206  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS PEKRY. 

For  the  growth  and  progress  of  Perry  much  credit 
is  due  to  A.  Sanderson,  the  first  chairman,  and  to  O. 
B.  Daley,  the  first  clerk.  They  were  both  indefati- 
gable in  encouraging  the  settlement  and  contributing 
largely  to  its  growth  and  progress.  To  O.  B.  Daley, 
Esq.,  is  mainly  due  the  honor  of  getting  the  Norwe- 
gian Lutheran  congregation  effectively  organized,  and 
it  may  well  be  said,  without  exaggeration,  that  O.  B 
Daley,  Esq.,  is  justly  deserving  of  the  universal  re- 
spect and  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  the  commu- 
nity of  which  he  is  the  honored  member.  A.  Sander- 
son  is  no  longer  in  the  land  of  the  living,  having  laid 
down  the  struggles  and  warfare  of  life  about  four 
years  since.  Many  others  of  the  early  settlers  have 
also  crossed  the  river  of  death.  The  present  chair- 
man of  the  town  is  L.  M.  Anderson,  Esq.,  who  has 
served  the  town  faithfully  in  that  capacity  since  1870. 
Mr.  Anderson  has  well  earned  the  confidence  thus  be- 
stowed, in  sending  him  for  so  many  successive  terms 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  county  board  of  super- 
visors, as  public  interests  will  be  well  taken  care  of, 
and  never  suffer  in  his  hands.  The  town  has  once 
been  represented  in  the  legislature  by  Hon.  OleTorg- 
erson,  now  a  resident  of  Madison. 

Notwithstanding  the  inconvenience  of  long  distance 
from  markets,  Perry  has  made  rapid  strides  towards 
wealth  and  competency,  and  has  now  a  population  of 
about  one  thousand  souls,  made  up  mostly  of  thrifty 
tillers  of  the  soil.  Judging  from  facts,  it  may  be  safely 
predicted  that  the  town  will  contribute  its  full  share 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS PEKRY.  297 

to  the  rapid  increase  of  the  population  of  old  Dane; 
peopled  as  it  is  by  Norwegian  and  German  branches 
of  the  prolific  Teutonic  race.  As  an  instance,  it  may 
be  mentioned  that  one  of  the  early  settlers,  Michael 
Gobel,  who  died  about  one  year  since,  left  surviving, 
thirteen  healthy  children,  and  several  other  instan- 
ces, nearly  approaching  this  can  be  shown  in  this  town. 
If  we  may  thus  be  allowed  to  judge  by  analogy,  we 
may  safely  claim  that  the  town  of  Perry  will,  in  the 
near  future,  possess  a  numerous  population  of  Amer- 
ican born  descendants  of  the  Norwegian  and  German 
branches  of  the  Teutonic  race  of  men,  proudly  trac- 
ing their  lineage  from  this  great  ancestral  source. 
Thus  are  made  up  the  historic  streams,  forever  min- 
gling their  waters  with  the  great  and  mighty  flood 
of  the  American  Republic. 


298  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS WESTPORT,    ETC. 


WESTPOET  AND  TILLAGE  OF  WAUKAKEE. 

BY  E.  L.  NOYES. 

The  town  of  "Westport  is  situated  northwest  of  the 
city  of  Madison,  and  adjoining  the  town  of  Madison 
on  the  north,  or  north  side  of  lake  Mendota  (Fourth 
Lake),  a  part  of  the  lake  being  within  the  limits  of 
the  town.  The  northern  and  western  parts  of  the 
town  are  principally  prairie,  beautiful  and  undulating 
in  hills,  valleys  and  lowland,  interspersed  with  groves 
of  timber,  or  oak  openings,  while  the  southern  part 
of  the  town  is  heavily  timbered  with  oak,  hickory 
and  maple,  and  is  familiarly  known  as  the  "  Sugar- 
bush."  The  climate  is  notably  healthy,  and  the  soil 
rich  and  adapted  to  the  luxuriant  growth  of  all  kinds 
of  grain,  green  and  lignuminous  crops,  as  well  as  dairy 
purposes. 

In  the  fall  of  1845,  Louis  Montandon,  a  French- 
man, and  Edward  Boyles,  an  Irishman,  built  a  log 
cabin  on  section  twenty,  and  during  that  winter  en- 
gaged themselves  in  splitting  rails.  They  endured 
great  privation  during  the  first  year  or  two,  and  were 
necessitated  to  travel  on  foot  about  eighteen  miles, 
through  creeks  and  swamps,  to  get  their  corn  and 
tlour  gristed,  and  on  many  occasions  were  obliged  to 
barricade  the  door  of  their  cabin  to  keep  out  the 
wolves,  who  would  surround  them  in  the  niij-ht  on  all 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS WESTrOET,    ETC.  299 

occasions  when  they  were  provided  with  a  good  sup- 
ply of  pork  and  flour,  making  the  night  hideous  with 
their  howling  and  efforts  to  obtain  an  entrance. 

Lecta,  Louis'  wife,  was  a  helpmate  to  him  in  many 
ways,  and  in  none  more  so  than  when  he  was  appoint- 
ed assessor;  she  did  the  business  for  him  with  a 
promptness  and  energy  better  suited  to  the  sterner 
sex,  and  equally  as  well  done. 

In  1846,  a  few  American  families  of  the  names  of 
Burdick,  Tower,  Bradbury  and  Rodgers  came  into  the 
town,  and  afterwards  a  number  of  families  from 
"Westport,  Ireland  (from  which  the  town  took  its 
name),  among  whom  were  the  O'Malleys.  Collins, 
Fitzgibbon  and  Ruddy,  also  came  about  this  time. 

For  a  number  of  years,  there  was  some  difficulty  in 
getting  access  from  Madison  to  the  eastern  portion  of 
the  township,  in  consequence  of  there  being  no 
bridges  across  the  Catfish,  but  on  the  building  of  Far- 
well's  grist  mill  and  two  bridges  across  the  Yahara, 
immigi-ation  started  into  the  town,  and  in  1849  and 
1850  a  large  number  of  settlers  from  Kilkenny,  and 
other  parts  of  Ireland,  purchased  farms  in  the  central 
and  western  part  of  the  town,  among  whom  were  the 
late  Hon.  Mat.  Roach,  P.  R.  Tierney,  J.#  Welsh,  AVm. 
and  Lawrence  O'Keefe,  Martin  Reed  and  a  number 
of  others,  and  the  Irish  element  has  remained  strong 
and  influential,  some  of  its  wealthiest  farmers  being 
of  that  nationality.  The  present  population,  like 
most  western  towns,  is  mixed  with  Irish,  German, 
English,  American,  Scotch  and  Norwegian,  and  agri- 
culture is  the  principal  pursuit. 


300  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS WESTFOKT,    ETC 


Early  settlers  tell  of  the  exquisite  beauty  of  the 
whole  surroundings  of  Westport  when  they  first  set- 
tled in  it,  and  it  has  never  lost  a  single  charm  either 
in  its  native  landscapes  or  what  art  and  the  hand  of 
man  has  bestowed.  Game,  of  all  kinds,  was  abund- 
ant, and  was  consequently  much  resorted  to  by  the 
Indians.  In  the  spring  the  settlers  were  accustomed 
to  turn  their  hogs  out  to  run  at  large  until  fall,  and 
when  in  need  of  fresh  pork  would  proceed  with  guns 
and  dogs  in  search  of  some  fat  pigs,  shoot  and  carry 
home  for  use.  When  the  weather  became  colder  the 
hogs  would  return  with  their  broods  for  winter  quar- 
ters. 

There  are  some  interesting  mounds  in  the  town,  a 
few  of  which  may  be  seen  on  the  hospital  grounds; 
the  building;  itself  is  built  where  a  number  of  Indian 
graves  and  mounds  stood,  and  visitors  to  the  hospital 
and  vicinity  will  find  the  drives  full  of  interest  and 
beauty,  and  will  be  still  more  so  when  the  contem- 
plated carriage  drive  from  Madison  around  the  edge 
of  the  lake  shall  be  completed.  In  former  years  the 
Indian  wiffwams  might  be  seen  on  and  near  the  hos- 
pital  grounds,  where  the  Indians  would  be  hunting 
muskrat  or  fishing.  Before  the  United  States  govern- 
ment ordered  their  removal  to  Nebraska,  they  made 
annual  visits  to  what  was  then  called  the  Indian  vil- 
lage, on  section  thirty-three,  on  the  land  now  belong- 
ing to  John  D.  Clute.  On  section  twenty,  on  the 
farm  of  J.  Fitzgibbon,  there  are  a  number  of  large 
mounds  of  an  oblong,  or  oval  shape,  overlooking 
Fourth  Lake,  and  also  near  the  shore  of  the  lake  at  a 


dane  county  towns — westpoet,  etc.        301 

place  known  as  the  Black  Woods,  near  Foxes'  bluff, 
a  name  given  to  that  locality  from  the  frequency  of 
these  little  animals  to  be  found  there.  Near  here  the 
City  of  Four  Lakes  was  first  contemplated,  and  where 
some  log  cabins  were  built  and  cellars  excavated  in 
anticipation  of  that  hope.  One  of  the  mounds  on 
Fitzgibbon's  farm  was  opened  by  some  of  the  citi- 
zens, but  nothing  of  interest  found  but  some  stone 
hammers  or  knives,  and  a  few  flint  arrowheads. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  in  the  house  of 
Michael  O'Malley,  in  1849,  and  the  following  offi- 
cers were  elected:  Supervisors  —  Michael  O'Malley 
(Chairman),  John  Collins  and  Louis  Montanda. 
Town  Clerk  —  Thomas  O'Malley  (but  who  after- 
wards resigned,  and  Thomas  R.  Hill  was  appointed). 
Treasurer  —  Thomas  Butts.  SupH  of  Schools  — 
I.  P.  Tower.  Justices  of  the  Peace  — Amos  Rodgers, 
Charles  Clarkson,  I.  P.  Tower  and  Azariah  Fay. 
Constables  —  Martin  O'Malley  and  Milo  Wells.  As- 
sessor—  John  Bradbury.  Fence  Viewers  —  Michael 
O'Malley,  Lawrence  Rodgers  and  Edward  Boyles. 
Sealer  of  Weights  —  Thomas  R.  Hill. 

Mr.  Thomas  Shillinglaw  was  the  first  postmaster  in 
the  town,  and  his  wife  is  known  to  have  been  the  first 
lady  justice  of  the  peace  in  Wisconsin,  having  been 
appointed  by  the  town  board,  subscribed  to  the  oath 
of  office  and  filed  her  bonds  in  pursuance  of  law. 

The  present  officers  of  the  town  are:  Supervi- 
sors— James  Hogan  (Chairman),  Michael  Koldes,  and 
Raynerd  Helt.    Treasurer — William  Wilson.     Clerk 


802  DANE     COUNTY    TOWNS  —  WESTPORT,    ETC. 

Jacob  Buhlman.  Asssessor — George  Schumacher. 
Dep.  Sheriff — James  Riley.     Justice  —  I.  P.  Bacon. 

In  the  central  part  of  the  town  is  a  large  Catholic 
church,  built  in  1860,  by  the  Rev.  P.  J.  Lavans.  It 
is  now  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Rev.  Father 
Miller,  whose  energy  and  christian  character  is  doing 
a  good  and  lasting  work  among  his  parishioners.  He 
has,  also,  charge  of  the  German  Mission  church,  in 
Waunakee,  on  section  8,  built  in  1874.  The  best  of 
harmony  prevails  among  co-religionists,  and  in  the 
hiring  of  teachers  religious  persuasion  has  not  been 
deemed  a  qualification  for  obtaining  a  school. 

One  of  the  state's  hospitals  for  the  insane  is  located 
within  the  town,  on  the  north  bank  of  Lake  Mendota, 
and  in  plain  view  of  Madison.  The  hospital  is  a  large 
and  beautiful  stone  building  (the  stone  being  obtained 
from  quarries  within  the  town),  and  is  surrounded  by 
a  beautiful  farm  of  between  three  and  four  hundred 
acres,  the  labor  of  cultivating  being  mostly  performed 
by  the  patients,  and  a  large  share  of  the  vegetables 
and  fruits  used  in  the  building  are  raised  on  the  farm. 
There  is,  also,  a  large  dairy  of  cows  kept  for  supply- 
ing the  institution  with  milk.  Mr.  Thos.  Hill,  an 
early  settler,  at  one  time  contracted  to  purchase  eighty 
acres  of  land  near  where  the  present  site  of  the  hos- 
pital is,  and  to  pay  for  the  same  in  cord  wood.  He 
cut  the  wood  and  piled  it,  but  before  he  was  able  to 
consummate  the  bargain,  a  prairie  fire  came  along  and 
burnt  up  all  his  labor  and  so  disheartened  him,  that  he 
resolved  to  make  no  further  efforts  to  regain  the  land, 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS WESTPORT,    ETC.  303 

which  is  now  a  portion  of  the  beautiful  grounds  of  the 
hospital. 

For  years,  Westport  was  the  residence  of  Ex-Gover- 
nor Farwell,  on  a  large  farm  on  the  margin  of  Fourth 
Lake,  adjoining  the  hospital  grounds,  and  part  owned 
by  them.  The  peninsular  island  now  nsed  by  the  in- 
stitution as  a  vegetable  garden  received  its  name  as 
"  Governor's  "  Island  from  the  above  fact. 

It  is  also  the  home  of  Miss  Ella  "Wheeler,  whose 
poems  are  becoming  known,  from  their  sweet  and 
tender  heart  strains,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific. 

John  Kershaw,  an  Englishman,  was  one  of  the  no- 
tables in  his  day,  and  lived  for  a  number  of  years  in 
a  shanty  on  section  six.  He  was  a  man  of  remarka- 
ble memory  and  general  information;  indeed,  was 
known  as  the  walking  cyclopedia  of  Westport.  He 
knew  the  value  of  money  just  so  far  as  it  was  capable 
of  being  used  in  acquiring  books,  which  he  read  to 
know,  and  not  only  to  possess.  Kershaw's  shanty 
was  one  of  those  places  where  to  lie  in  bed  was  to 
command  the  entrance,  and  when  blustering  weather 
unlatched  the  door,  John  would  lie  still  and  give  it  a 
kick  with  his  foot  to  again  close  it.  It  was  an  airy 
house,  when  any  one  contemplates  its  roof,  which  was 
shingled  wTith  eighteen-inch  oak  shingles,  that  year  af- 
ter year's  exposure  had  brought  into  a  semi-circular 
shape  outward.  John  never  lost  his  opportunities  in 
acquiring  knowledge,  and  it  is  said  his  astronomical 
culture  was  greatly  heightened  by  the  ethereal  vision, 
seen   through   the  telescopic  shingles  of   his  home. 


304  DANE    TOUNTY    TOWNS WESTPOKT,    ETC. 

His  name,  however,  is  a  pleasing  recollection  to  the 
citizens  of  Westport,  and  few  would  receive  a  heartier 
welcome  than  old  John  Kershaw  should  he  a^ain  re- 
turn  to  Westport  from  his  new  home  in  the  West. 

On  Six-Mile  Creek  there  is  a  good  grist  mill,  built 
in  1860  by  E.  D.  Churchill,  who  sold  out  to  the  late 
Mr.  Win.  Paekham,  who,  together  with  his  two  sons, 
Raymond  and  William,  run  it  successfully  for  a  num- 
.  ber  of  years,  when  they  sold  out,  in  1876,  to  the  pres- 
ent owner,  Mr.  John  Bowerman,  and  who  purposes 
increasing  his  power  and  facilities  by  the  aid  of  steam. 
A  short  distance  further  up  the  creek  there  was  for- 
merlv  a  saw  mill. 

The  town  is  well  supplied  with  quarries,  and  the 
Cream  stone,  or  marble,  used  in  the  building  of  the 
government  court  house  and  post-office,  in  Madison, 
was  obtained  from  the  quarry  on  section  11,  and  which 
the  United  States  government  purchased  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  stone  was  exhibited  and  much  admired  at 
the  Centennial,  as  were  also  some  of  the  other  products 
of  the  town. 

A  branch  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway 
passes  through  the  town  from  northwest  to  southeast, 
with  Mendota  station,  on  the  the  hospital  farm,  and 
Waunakee,  on  sections  five  and  eight,  in  the  northwest. 

Waunakee  is  a  pretty  and  thriving  village,  situated 
on  a  beautiful  prairie,  from  which  it  is  said  to  have 
derived  its  name.  It  was  platted  January  30,  1871, 
by  George  C.  Fish  and  Louis  Baker,  and  has  now 
a  population  of  two  hundred,  and  a  brisk  trade  is 
carried  on  in  all  kinds  of  agricultural  produce,  live 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS WESTPORT,    ETC.  305 

stock,  lumber,  dry  goods,  clothing  and  general  mer- 
chandise. The  surrounding  country  is  rich  and  pro- 
ductive, and  well  watered. 

Waunakee  Business  Directory.— Packham  Bros., 
lumber,  grain  and  live  stock;  Buhlman  Bros.,  dry- 
goods,  groceries,  clothing,  etc.;  C.  Hudson,  drugs, 
groceries  and  general  merchandise;  L.  P.  Goodchap, 
boots,  shoes,  groceries  and  general  merchandise;  Tay- 
lor Bros.,  boots,  shoes,  groceries  and  general  merchan- 
dise; E.  L.  Noyes,  contractor  and  builder  and  dealer 
in  village  lots,  &c. ;  E.  L.  !Noyes,  cheese  factory; 
R.  W.  Towne,  hotel  keeper  and  meat  market;  I.  P. 
Bacon,  justice  of  the  peace;  P.  R.  Tierney,  attorney 
at  law;  James  Riley,  deputy  sheriff  and  dealer  in  farm 
machinery;  C.  Gusman,  carpenter;  A.  J.  Van  Tassel, 
carpenter;  A.  Peih,  saloon  keeper;  M.  Schuluck,  sal- 
oon keeper;  J.  Hilgert,  saloon  keeper;  J.  Howard, 
physician;  J.  Knipschild,  shoemaker;  T.  R.  Lutzow, 
shoemaker;  E.  J.  Foster,  station  and  express  agent; 
J.  T.  Akers,  blacksmith;  Hilbert  Bros.,  blacksmiths; 
Mrs.  Foster,  milliner. 
20 


o 


06  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  SPRINGDALE. 


SPKINGDALE. 

BY  JAMES  P.  McPHERSON,  EoQ. 

Springdale,  town  No.  6  north,  of  range  No.  7 
east,  lies  fifteen  to  twenty-one  miles  southwest  of  the 
city  of  Madison,  and  is  traversed  by  the  Madison  and 
Mineral  Point,  and  the  Madison  and  Wiota  state  roads, 
and  the  territorial  road  from  the  Badger  Mills  to  Bine 
Mounds. 

There  are  in  this  township  some  remarkable  re- 
mains of  that  ancient  people,  who  are  supposed  to 
have  inhabited  this  country  prior  to  its  occupancy  by 
the  Indian  races;  the  most  noteworthy  of  which  are 
to  be  found  on  section  fifteen.  Here  are  three  mounds 
about  fifty  feet  apart,  and  extending  east  and  west; 
they  are  uniform  in  size,  being  about  six  feet  in 
height  above  the  surface  of  the  adjacent  land,  and 
circular  at  the  base,  where  they  are  nearly  forty  feet 
in  diameter.  Commencing  at  the  distance  of  fifty 
feet  from  the  most  eastern  mound,  and  extending  in 
an  unvarying  direction  to  the  east,  there  is  a  long  low 
ridge  or  bank  of  earth,  one  hundred  feet  in  length; 
the  height  of  this  ridge  above  the  surface  of  the  ground 
on  which  it  is  situated  is  four  feet,  and  measures  six 
feet  through  the  base,  north  and  south.  A  line  drawn 
due  east  and  west  would  divide  the  three  mounds  and 
ridge  exactly  in  the  center.     Being  upon  elevated  land. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SPRINGDALE.  307 

the  view  from  the  site  of  these  mounds  would,  were 
it  not  for  the  luxuriant  young  trees  by  which  they  are 
surrounded,  be  beautiful  and  commanding.  In  the 
summer  of  1870  one  of  these  mounds  was  partially 
explored  by  Mr.  Charles  H.  Lewis,  a  resident  of  the 
town,  when  a  well  preserved  human  skeleton  was  un- 
earthed, together  with  a  stone  pipe  of  curious  work- 
manship, two  stone  knives,  some  highly  polished  and 
perforated  pieces  of  bone,  and  many  stone  imple- 
ments, the  use  of  which  is  now  unknown. 

These  mounds  and  their  contents  are  objects  of  great 
interest  to  the  antiquarian,  as  they  point  to  the  stone 
age  of  Wisconsin,  and  tend  to  the  elucidation  of  the 
great  problem  in  regard  to  that  extinct  and  mysteri- 
ous people,  the  Mound  Builders  of  America. 

The  town  was  settled  in  1844  or  1845,  the  first  set- 
tler being  Mr.  John  Harlow,  who  built  the  first  house 
within  the  limits  of  the  town.  That  house  is  still 
standing1  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Patrick  Casey,  on  sec- 
tion one. 

In  1845,  Messrs.  Michael  Jacket,  Wyatt  Perkins, 
Perry  Munger,  Thomas  Bentley  and  others,  settled  in 
the  northeast  part  of  the  town  and  commenced  the 
improvement  of  their  lands.  Mr.  Perkins  built  a  dam 
and  saw  mill  on  a  small  branch  of  Sugar  river.  These 
were  regarded  by  some  of  Mr.  Perkins'  neighbors,  as 
hindrances  rather  than  improvements,  and  led  to  liti- 
gation, which  resulted  in  the  removal  of  the  dam  and 
mill,  and  also  Mr.  Perkins,  who  sought  a  new  location 
for  his  mechanical  industry. 


308  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  SPRINGDALE. 

In  1846  Messrs.  Thomas  B.  Miles,  Axium  Malone, 
Hawley  Chi  Ids,  1ST.  H.  Dryden,  Thore  T.  Spaanem, 
Morgan  L.  Curtis,  John  S.  Berge,  Henry  Boland, 
Martin  Nash,  Michael  Johnson  and  others,  moved  in 
and  occupied  land  in  other  parts  of  town.  In  1850 
John  Mitchell  and  James  P.  McPherson  settled  on 
section  24  and  25. 

The  town  was  organized  in  1848,  the  first  election 
for  town  officers  being  held  on  the  second  Tuesday  of 
April  in  that  year.  Twenty  votes  were  cast,  and 
twenty-one  offices  were  filled,  and  the  following  named 
persons  were  elected,  viz.:  Chairman,  Martin  Nash; 
Supervisors,  Wyatt  Perkins  and  Thomas  Bentley; 
Town  Clerk,  Robert  N.  Ashmore;  Treasurer,  Morgan 
L.  Curtis;  Collector,  Axium  Malone;  Justices,  Mar- 
tin Nash  and  Morgan  L.  Curtis;  Commissioners  of 
Highways,  Thomas  Bentley,  N.  H.  Dryden,  and  Rob- 
ert N.  Ashmore;  School  Commissioners,  Hawley 
Childs,  Thos.  B.  Miles  and  Wyatt  Perkins;  Assessors, 
Perry  Munger  and  Thos.  B.  Miles;  Fence  Viewers, 
Michael  Jacket  and  Hawley  Childs;  Constables,  Axi- 
um Malone  and  John  I.  Berge;  Sealer  of  Weights 
and  Measures,  Win,  A.  Dryden. 

Of  the  twenty-one  officers  then  elected,  there  are 
four  of  them  yet  residents  of  the  town,  viz.:  Messrs. 
N.  II.  Dryden,  Thos.  B.  Miles,  Michael  Jacket  and 
John  I.  Berge. 

It  was  determined  that  no  town  tax  should  be  lev- 
ied, and  that  the  officers  should  receive  no  pay  foi 
their  services  for  that  year,  but  shortly  after  the  elec- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SPEINGDALE.  309 

tion,  a  special  town  meeting  was  quietly  convened  by 
the  incumbents  interested,  and  a  small  town  tax,  suf- 
ficient to  satisfy  the  office-holders  of  those  early  days, 
was  levied,  and  in  due  time  collected. 

From  1848  to  1852,  the  population  of  the  town  was 
largely  increased  by  immigration,  and  nearly  all  the 
land  was  then  entered  and  occupied  by  settlers  from 
the  Eastern  and  Middle  States,  and  from  England, 
Scotland,  Ireland,  Germany  and  Norway,  who  have 
devoted  their  attention  and  labor  to  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil.  The  natural  facilities  for  manufactures  of 
any  description  are  but  limited,  and  agriculture  has 
therefore  been  the  occupation  of  the  people,  and  will 
likely  remain  so. 

The  western  branch  of  Sugar  river  runs  through 
the  west  and  southwest  part  of  the  town,  and  the  vil- 
lage of  Mount  Vernon.  This  village  was  platted  in 
1850-51,  by  Mr.  George  G.  Britts,  who  then  com- 
menced the  improvement  of  the  water-power  and  built 
a  saw  mill.  In  1852,  Dr.  P.  Byam  obtained  posses- 
sion of  the  village  site  and  much  of  the  adjacent  land, 
enlarged  the  village  plat,  and  built  a  small  but  well 
arranged  grist  mill,  which  has  been  of  great  conven- 
ience to  the  citizens. 

Near  where  the  river  enters  the  town,  there  is  a 
place  familiarly  known  as  the  Mormon  Baptismal 
Pond,  because  at  an  early  day  several  of  the  followers 
of  Joe  Smith,  having  come  from  the  South  after  the 
government  had  ordered  their  removal  to  Utah,  and 
settled   in   several   places  in   the   west,   among  oth- 


310  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS — SPRINGDALE. 

ers  here,  where  they  were  accustomed  to  preach  and 
baptize  converts.  The  excitement  at  these  services 
is  said  to  have  been  equal  to  any  fair,  and  perhaps 
with  but  little  difference,  as  Saint  and  Gentile,  for 
miles  around,  met  more  for  the  hilarity  incident  to 
the  occasion  than  for  any  great  conversions  that  fol- 
lowed, although  some  of  the  preachers  were  powerful 
orators.  It  is  said  that  during  the  baptismal  rites  the 
excitement  would  become  so  great  that  an  occasional 
mistake  would  occur  as  some  poor  unfortunate  dog 
was  forced  into  the  river  by  wicked  Gentiles,  and 
then  seized  by  an  excited  Saint  and  devoutly  immersed. 
These  poor  animals  were  afterwards  known  as  Mor- 
mon proselytes,  put  out  on  probation. 

Religious  discussions  between  the  Mormons  and 
others  were  of  common  occurrence,  and  three  of  their 
most  eloquent  preachers  challenged  a  Mr  Cameron, 
a  Scotch  layman,  to  a  public  discussion  of  their  doc- 
trines in  the  school  house.  Though  a  busy  time 
among  the  farmers,  they  nevertheless  assembled  ear- 
ly in  the  morning  from  far  and  near,  to  hear  the 
combatants.  The  discussion  continued  the  whole  day, 
and  though  the  layman  had  persuasive  and  subtile 
orators  to  contend  with,  he  came  out  the  victor,  and 
not  long  afterwards,  as  well  as  by  a  number  of  inde- 
screet  acts  of  a  moral  character,  the  Mormon  cause 
began  to  wane,  and  finally  to  move  out  of  the  town. 

The  town  is  divided  into  five  whole  and  three  joint 
school  districts,  with  six  school  houses  located  in  the 
town,  two  of  which  are  stone  and  four  are  frame  build- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SPRINGDALE.  311 

ings,  all  of  which  are  in  good  condition.  The  citi- 
zens, at  town  and  school  district  meetings,  have  always 
evinced  the  interest  they  feel  in  the  existence  and 
prosperity  of  our  common  schools,  by  providing  lib- 
erally for  their  support. 

There  are  but  two  church  edifices  in  the  town,  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran,  occupying  an  elevated  position 
on  the  prairie  ridge,  in  section  8,  and  the  Baptist 
church,  in  Mount  Yernon.  A  German  Lutheran  con- 
gregation meet  for  worship  in  the  school  house  of 
school  district  No.  3,  on  section  25,  and  a  German 
Methodist  congregation  meet  at  the  houses  of  the 
members,  in  the  same  neighborhood. 

In  1859,  Mr.  George  West  opened  a  store  on  sec- . 
tion  11,  near  what  is  now  the  Clontarf  postoffice.  Pie 
continued  in  business  about  a  year,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Messers.  Peter  Quigley,  John  C.  Thompson,  Thos. 
Managan,  and  Patrick  Carr.  Mr.  Carr  has  continued 
in  business  there  for  about  fourteen  years,  has  a  large 
stock  of  goods,  suitable  for  the  locality,  and  does  an 
extensive  and  increasing  trade  with  the  citizens  of 
Springdale,  Verona  and  Cross  Plains. 

The  first  postoffice  in  the  town,  Springdale,  was  es- 
tablished in  1850.  Mr.  Thos.  B.  Miles  was  appointed 
postmaster,  and  retained  the  office  until  December, 
1866,  when  he  resigned. 

There  are  now  three  postoffices  in  the  town,  Spring- 
dale,  on  section  25,  J.  P.  McPherson,  postmaster; 
Mount  Yernon,  I.  G.  Brader,  Sr.,  postmaster;  and 
Clontarf,  on  section  12,  P.  Carr,  postmaster. 


312  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SPKINGDALE. 


MOUNT    VERNON BY  DK.  W.  J.  DONALD. 

Tbii  village,  of  about  one  hundred  inhabitants,  is  situated  on  the 
middle  branch  of  the  Sugar  river,  nineteen  miles  southwest  of 
Madison.  The  location  is  a  pleasant  one,  the  greater  part  being  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  river,  while  on  the  west  side,  some  high  rocks 
and  hills  add  to  the  picturesqueness  of  the  scenery.  On  one  of  these 
rocks  grew  an  old  pine  tree  that  was  an  ancient  landmark  to  the 
early  settlers,  and  a  noted  object  of  interest  to  visitors  because  of  its 
marked  distinction  from  all  surroundings.  It  was  blown  down  by 
a  wind-storm  on  the  evening  of  January  1,  1876. 

The  surrounding  country,  though  rolling,  is  productive,  and  well 
adapted  to  the  raising  of  stock  and  dairy  puqioses,  and  inhabited 
by  a  thrifty  class  of  farmers,  mostly  of  German  and  Norwegian 
origin. 

The  health  of  the  place  is  excellent,  with  a  remarkable  exemption 
from  epidemics,  particularly  scarlet  fever,  and  cases  of  ague  are  rare. 

Two  religious  societies  are  here  represented,  Baptist  and  Method- 
ist. The  Baptists  have  a  good  church  edifice.  The  Methodists  hold 
service  in  the  school-house,  a  good  stone  building. 

The  never- failing  Sugar  river  affords  two  excellent  water  powers, 
with  only  one,  as  yet,  improved.  Its  distance  from  Madison  and 
other  villages  makes  it  a  good  point  for  business  of  all  kinds ;  not 
one,  in  truth,  can  be  said  to  be  overdone.  Those  in  business  here 
have  been,  in  most  every  instance,  successful,  and  have  continued 
residents  of  the  place  for  many  years.  Mr.  John  Jones,  proprietor 
of  the  flouring  mill,  learned  his  business  here,  and  afterward  became 
partner,  and  again  eight  years  ago,  proprietor,  while  he  now  rents 
the  mill  to  C.  W.  Korn.  Mr.  I.  G.  Brader,  Sr.,  who  keeps  an 
excellent  general  store,  has  been  in  business,  with  a  little  exception, 
for  the  past  eighteen  years,  and  has  held  the  office  of  postmaster 
continuously  since  1856.*  Mr.  C.  C.  Allen  furnishes  a  good  hotel, 
and  lately  erected  newT  buildings  for  the  better  accommodation  of 
the  traveling  public. 

Dr.  William  J.  Donald,  after  a  year's  respite  from  business,  is  at 
his  post  again,  as  in  the  past  eleven  years.  Mr.  W.  W.  Abbot, 
blacksmith,  and  C.  J.  Lewis,  builder  and  carpenter,  have  been  re- 
sidents of  the  place  for  the  past  twenty-five  years,  and  in  active 
business.  Among  others  doing  business  and  general  y  prospering 
maybe  mentioned:  Foye  and  Kea,  masons;  W.  W.  Miner,  boots 
and.  shoes;  M.  F.  Van  Norman,  live  stock  buyer;  Andrew  Peter- 
son, blacksmith;  Erick  Erickson,  shoemaker;  P.  E.  Call,  saddler; 
F.  A.  Fix,  hotel  and  saloon;  George,  Wade,  butcher;  C.  H.  Lewis, 
carpenter;  A.  C.  Brader,  clerk;  I.  G.  and  A.  C.  Brader  were  in  the 
mercantile  business  until  two  years  ago.  I.  G.  Brader,  Jr.,  re- 
moved to  Iowa,,  but  has  recently  returned,  and  built  himself  a  re- 
sidence, and  expects  to  resume  business  soon. 

*  Since  the  above  was  in  type  I.  G.  Brader,  Sr.,  has  sold  to  O.  B.  Daley,  ol 
the  town  of  Perry,  and  his  son  Herman  will  continue  in  charge  of  the  biisi 
nee6  in  Mount  Vernon. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  SUN    PRAIRIE.  313 


SUN    PRAIRIE. 

BY  DR.  O.G.CROSSE. 

In  pursuance  of  an  act  of  the  first,  or  Belmont, 
legislative  assembly,  which  located  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment at  Madison,  Mr.  Augustus  A.  Bird  had  been 
elected  acting  commissioner  for  the  erection  of  suita- 
ble buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  the  assembly 
and  other  officers  of  the  territorial  government.  On 
the  20th  day  of  May,  183T,  the  acting  commissioner, 
accompanied  by  his  brother,  Mr.  C.  II.  Bird,  and  a 
company  of  forty-five  men,  started  from  Milwaukee 
for  the  town  of  Madison.  At  that  time  nearly  all  of 
Wisconsin  westward  from  Milwaukee  was  an  un- 
broken wilderness.  One  solitary  settler  at  Summit, 
about  twenty  miles  west  of  the  lake,  three  at  Water- 
town,  on  Rock  river,  one  at  Fort  Atkinson,  twenty 
miles  down  the  river,  and  one  at  Janesville.  These 
bold  pioneers,  with  their  wives  and  children,  stood 
sentinels  upon  the  outmost  borders  of  civilization. 
With  these  exceptions,  all  was  in  the  condition  in 
which  it  left  the  fashioning  hand  of  the  Creator. 
Wild  beasts  roamed  at  will  over  its  forests  and  prai- 
ries, and  their  dominion  was  disputed  only  by  the 
scarcely  less  wild  and  savage  Winnebagoes.  On  the 
fifth  day  of  June,  the  company  above  mentioned, 
tired,  foot-sore  and  depressed,  plodded  their  weary 


314  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SUN    PKAIRIE. 

way  through  the  wild  scenery  of  this  then  unexplored 
wilderness.  Xine  days  had  elapsed  since  they  started 
on  their  weary  march,  and  they  had  been  drenched 
with  rains  and  oppressed  with  continuous  cloudy  and 
lowering  weather  —  the  sun  had  not  once  gladdened 
them  with  its  beams  since  the  clay  on  which  they  left 
Milwaukee.  At  length,  as  they  emerged  upon  the 
borders  of  the  beautiful  prairie,  about  two  miles  east 
of  where  the  village  of  Sun  Prairie  now  stands,  the 
sun  shone  forth  in  all  its  brightness,  and  illuminated 
the  scene  before  them  as  with  a  halo  of  glory.  The 
contrast  which  this  beautiful  vision  presented  to  the 
g^oom  with  which  they  bad  been  surrounded  wTas  so 
great,  that  they  greeted  it  with  a  shout,  and  almost 
involuntarily  bivouacked  upon  its  borders,  christening 
the  locality  "  Sun  Prairie,"  which  name  they  carved 
into  the  bark  of  an  oak  tree  which  stood  near  by:  and 
for  many  years  this  tree  bore  upon  its  breast,  in  rude 
letters,  the  inscription  "  Sun  Prairie."  Hence  origi- 
nated the  name  of  the  locality  which  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  The  company  above  mentioned  en- 
camped that  night  upon  the  spot,  which  some  two 
years  afterwards  was  selected  by  Mr.  C.  II.  Bird  for 
his  future  home,  and  upon  which  his  residence  now 
stands.  In  the  year  1839,  Mr.  B.  became  the  first 
white  settler  in  the  town  of  Sun  Prairie,  and  dur- 
ing the  first  year  of  his  residence  his  only  neighbors 
consisted  of  a  band  of  Winnebagoes,  whose  wigwams 
were  upon  the  present  site  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  who  hunted  the  game  that  abounded  in  the  vicin- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SUN    PRAIRIE.  815 

it j.  In  1840,  Mr.  Thomas  Marks,  and  the  next  year 
Messrs.  Benj.  Knight,  Charles  Peasley,  Horace  Potter, 
W.  Van  Bergen,  John  Winsled,  John  Ostrander  and 
Rev.  Albert  Slingerland,  with  their  families,  located  at 
this  point.  Col.  W.  II.  Angell  and  several  others  came 
within  the  next  year  or  two,  and  thus  was  formed  the 
little  hamlet  which  for  several  years,  and  until  invaded 
by  the  enemy  of  all  sylvan  beauty  and  quietude  —  the 
railroad  —  constituted  one  of  the  most  lovely  rural 
hamlets  in  the  west.  "While  settlers  were  thus  slowly 
arriving  at  the  little  village,  others  were  locating  in 
the  surrounding  country;  at  Pierceville,  some  four 
miles  south,  Messrs.  Enoch  and  Bradford  Churchill, 
Ira  Balch,  John  Taylor,  ~W.  A.  Pierce,  Tisdale  Pierce, 
Calvin  Flower,  Mark  Haslett  and  John  Phillips 
formed  a  little  settlement  in  1840;  at  the  Bailey  set- 
tlement, two  miles  southwest  from  the  village,  Sam- 
uel, Asahel  and  Charles  Bailey  and  It.  T.  Cameron 
were  the  advance  guard,  and  arrived  in  1841;  at  other 
points  within  the  present  limits  of  the  township  of 
Sun  Prairie,  A.  W.  Dickinson,  George  Pine  and  Mr. 
Brockway  located  in  the  year  1842.  At  Northumber- 
land, in  the  town  of  Bristol,  at  Deanville  and  other 
points  in  the  vicinity,  little  settlements  were  spring- 
ing into  existence,  and  the  country  was  beginning  to 
assume  importance  as  an  agricultural  district. 

That  the  pathway  of  these  early  pioneers  was  not 
always  strewn  with  flowers  will  be  readily  believed. 
Their  lot  was  no  more  exempt  from  toil,  privation 
and  hardship  than  is  that  of  all  who  brave  the  perils 


310  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS SUN    PRAIRIE. 

of  frontier  life.  The  following  incident,  selected 
from  a  large  number  of  similar  anecdotes,  is  men- 
tioned as  illustrative  of  this:  In  the  fall  of  1837,  C. 
H.  Bird,  Zenas  Bird,  Norman  Pratt  and  Mr.  Parker 
were  sent  to  Milwaukee  by  their  employer,  the  acting 
commissioner  above  mentioned,  and  having  accom- 
plished the  object  of  their  mission,  were  on  their  re- 
turn journey.  In  the  act  of  crossing  Pock  river 
their  canoe  capsized,  and  all  their  provisions  and  ac- 
coutrements were  lost.  During  the  remaining  four 
days  of  their  homeward  journey,  their  only  food  con- 
sisted of  oak  apples  —  little  excrescences  caused  by 
the  sting  of  an  insect  upon  the  leaves  of  oak  trees. 
But  for  the  timely  meeting  with  two  brave  fellows, 
sent  from  Madison,  with  food  for  their  relief,  they 
must  have  perished  from  fatigue  and  hunger. 

The  township  of  Sun  Prairie  was  organized  in  the 
year  1839,  and  included  all  that  district  which  now 
constitutes  the  townships  of  York,  Medina,  Bristol 
and  Sun  Prairie.  The  first  election,  or  town  meeting, 
was  held  in  the  spring  of  1840,  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
C.  H.  Bird,  and  it  was  presided  over  by  John  Cat- 
lin,  Esq.,  from  the  town  of  Madison,  who  had  been 
deputed  for  that  purpose.  At  that  election  nine  votes 
were  cast. 

In  1844,  the  township  or  precinct  of  Sun  Prairie 
was  subdivided  by  the  organization  of  the  towns  of 
York  and  Bristol,  from  its  northern  half,  and  in  184S 
the  town  of  Medina  was  organized,  leaving  a  town- 
ship of  the  usual  dimensions,  six  miles  square.     Its 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SUN    PKAIRIE.  317 

surface  is  slightly  undulating  and  is  of  the  quality 
usually  known  as  "  oak  openings,"  interspersed  with 
small  projections  or  indentations  from  the  neighbor- 
ing prairie.  It  is  traversed  from  northwest  to  south- 
east by  the  Koshkonong  creek,  along  which  are  occa- 
sional bottom-lands  or  natural  meadows  of  jn'eat  fer- 
tility.  The  original  settlers  were  almost  exclusively 
of  New  England  origin,  but  in  later  years  quite  a 
number  of  Germans  and  a  few  Irish  have  found  homes 
within  its  borders.  Of  the  early  settlers  above  enu- 
merated, nearly  all  remained  as  permanent  residents, 
and  founded  homes  for  themselves  and  posterity  such 
as  are  a  recompense  for  the  toils  and  privations  which 
they  endured  as  pioneers.  A  few  only  partook  of  the 
restless  spirit  which  so  often  haunts  the  frontiersman, 
and  moved  farther  on  as  civilization  crowded  upon 
their  footsteps.  A.  W.  Dickinson  transferred  his 
farm  to  John  A.  Peckham,  who  now  resides  upon  it. 
Horace  Potter  sold  out  his  farm,  which  is  now  owned 
by  Pardee  Peckham.  Mr.  Brockway  was  followed 
by  Moses  Yervalen,  and  he  by  Joshua  Boyles,  the 
present  thrifty  and  enterprising  owner.  John  Ostran- 
cler  early  transferred  his  home  to  the  present  town  of 
Bristol  and  became  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the 
Northumberland  neighborhood.  The  township,  ex- 
clusive of  the  village,  has  at  present  a  population  of 
about  sixteen  hundred,  who  are  devoted  solely  to  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  The  New  England  characteristics 
of  its  early  settlers  have  always  exerted  a  decided  in- 
fluence upon  the  social,  political,  religious  and  busi- 


318  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SUN    PRAIRIE. 

ness  character  of  the  people,  hence  morality,  conscien- 
tiousness and  zeal  have  always  been  prominent  char- 
acteristics and  have  resulted  in  the  establishment  of 
schools,  church  organizations  and  societies,  especially 
distinguished  by  these  attributes,  and  honest}7,  integ- 
rity and  strict  economy  in  their  business  relations 
have  resulted  in  abundant  prosperity. 

The  limits  of  this  chapter  preclude  any  biographi- 
cal sketches  of  individuals  or  even  the  briefest  allu- 
sion to  the  part  taken  by  the  people  of  Sun  Prairie  in 
its  local  history  or  in  its  relations  with  other  commu- 
nities. Most  especially  do  we  regret  the  want  of 
space  in  which  to  rehearse  their  record  in  the  war  of 
the  rebellion.  It  must  suffice  to  say  that  in  unity  of 
sentiment,  in  support  of  the  government,  no  people 
were  more  loyal,  and  in  the  practical  bestowal  of  men 
and  means  to  aid  in  that  desperate  struggle  none  did 
their  duty  more  fully. 

Since  the  separation  of  the  village  from  the  town- 
ship by  the  incorporation  of  the  former  in  1S68,  the 
citizens  of  the  township  have  erected  a  neat  and  com- 
modious town-house,  on  section  eighteen,  in  which  is 
transacted  the  business  of  the  town  government.  It 
is  also  the  place  of  meeting  of  a  large  and  flourishing 
Grange  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  which  em- 
braces a  large  proportion  of  the  farmers  of  the  town. 
The  present  board  of  supervisors  consists  of  F.  L. 
Warner,  chairman,  A.  F.  Persons  and  Robert  Beecham. 

In  the  year  1859,  a  line  of  railroad  having  been 
projected   from    Milwaukee  to  the    Baraboo  valley, 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  SUN    PRAIRIE.  319 

had  been  completed  as  far  as  Watertown,  and  lo- 
cated and  graded  on  a  line  about  three  miles  south 
of  the  village  of  Sun  Prairie.  The  denizens  of  this 
little  hamlet,  having  for  about  twenty  years  enjoyed 
the  quietude  and  seclusion  consequent  upon  their 
great  distance  from  any  business  centre,  had  appa- 
rently no  aspirations  for  their  village,  nor  even 
dreamed  that  it  was  possible  to  convert  the  Sab- 
bath stillness  and  sylvan  beauties  of  their  streets  into 
a  mart  of  busy  trade  —  a  market  for  the  produce  of 
an  extensive  and  productive  tract  of  country.  The 
rapid  progress  in  the  construction  of  the  railroad, 
however,  and  the  certainty  that  if  completed  upon  its 
projected  route  their  little  village  would  be  forever 
cut  off  from  any  hope  of  future  greatness,  seemed  at 
once  to  arouse  them  from  their  apparent  lethargy  to 
a  sense  of  the  necessity  for  action.  Meetings  were 
held,  committees  appointed  and  negotiations  entered 
into  with  S.  L.  Rose,  president  of  the  railroad  com- 
pany, S.  S.  Merrill,  general  manager,  D.  C.  Jackson 
and  other  influential  railroad  men,  with  the  object  of 
securing  a  change  in  the  location  of  the  road  so  as  to 
bring  it  to  Sun  Prairie.  These  men  were  soon  won 
over  to  the  support  of  the  project,  but  the  change  of 
route  could  not  be  made  without  some  special  legisla- 
tion. A  bill  for  this  purpose  was  introduced  into  the 
senate  at  the  next  session  of  the  legislature,  but  not- 
withstanding a  strong  effort  in  its  favor  by  railroad 
officials  and  lobbyists  from  the  village  of  Sun  Prairie, 
it  was  bitterly  opposed  by  antagonistic  interests  and 


320  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SUN    PKAIEIE. 

defeated.  It  is  said  that  the  then  member  of  assem- 
bly from  that  district  regretted  the  fate  of  the  bill  in. 
the  senate,  because  he  thereby  missed  an  opportunity 
to  deliver  "a  d — d  spicy  little  speech,"  which  he  had 
prepared  in  its  favor.  Strategy,  however,  which  more 
often  than  valor,  wins  victories,  succeeded  in  procur- 
ing the  necessary  legislation  under  which  the  desired 
change  could  be  made.  A  clause  was  introduced  into 
a  bill  then  pending,  which  provided  that  no  valid  in- 
junction could  be  served  upon  a  railroad  company  to 
restrain  them  from  doing  any  act  unless  thirty  days 
previous  notice  had  been  served  upon  such  company. 
The  bill  to  which  this  provision  was  attached  passed 
the  legislature  and  became  a  law  before  those  who  were 
opposed  to  the  desired  change  of  route  were  aware 
that  under  it  the  change  could  be  made.  Thus  pro- 
tected from  restraint  by  injunction,  the  company  hast- 
ened the  laying  of  the  track  without  unnecessary  de- 
lay, in  some  places  not  even  grading  the  road-bed, 
and  in  less  than  thirty  days  the  route  was  changed, 
and  the  triumph  of  Sun  Prairie  secured.  In  No- 
vember, 1859,  the  railroad  was  completed  to  that 
point.  Then  followed  a  period  of  active  business 
prosperity,  and  apparently  a  golden  opportunity 
for  building  up,  on  a  permanent  basis,  a  town  of  con- 
siderable importance  and  magnitude.  For  ten  years, 
Sun  Prairie  wras  the  western  terminus  of  the  Milwau- 
kee and  Baraboo  Yalley  Railroad,  and  was  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  flourishing  inland  grain  markets  in 
the  state. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  - —  SUN    l'KAIRIE.  321 

That   this  period  of   business    activity   and   great 
prosperity  was  not  productive  of  more  permanent  re- 
sults as  manifested  in   enlarged  growth  and  increase 
of  population  and  wealth  may  perhaps  be  partially 
explained  by  the  fact  that  at  about  the  time  when  the 
attention  of  capitalists  and  enterprising  business  men 
was  being  attracted  to  this  point,  the  war  of  the  re- 
bellion came  with  all  its  attendant  horrors;  enlist- 
ment and  conscription  were  the  order  of  the  day ;  the 
population  was  decimated  and  business  of  all  kinds 
except  that  of  supplying  men  and  means  for  the  army 
was  depressed  and  languishing.     As  a  market  for  the 
produce  of  the  country  Sun   Prairie  was  in   no  wav 
injured  by  this  trying  ordeal,  but  its  prospects  of  be- 
ing permanently  benefited  thereby  were  materially 
lessened.     Capital  became  shy  of  investment  in  em- 
bryo cities,  and  enterprise  was   diverted   into   other 
channels  than  that  of  building  up  rural  towns,   be 
their  prospects  ever  so  inviting.     In  the  meantime, 
and  before  it  was  possible  to  recover  from  these  and 
other  depressing  influences,  which  the  prescribed  lim- 
its of  this  chapter  preclude  from  mention,  the  rail- 
road had  changed  ownership,  and  been  diverted  from 
its  originally  determined  route  and  made  to  converge 
toward  and  join  the  main  line  of  the  Milwaukee  and 
Prairie  du  Ohien  road  at  the  city  of  Madison.     This 
deprived  Sun  Prairie  of  its  advantages  as  an  inland 
railroad  terminus,  and  made  of  it   simply  a  way-sta- 
tion.    Its  inability  to  acquire   strength,  wealth  and 

influence  rendered  it  powerless  to  prevent  the  build - 
21 


322  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  SUN    PRAIRIE. 


ing  up  of  competing  markets,  and  as  a  consequence  it 
has  been  shorn  of  a  portion  of  its  former  business 
prosperity.  By  an  act  of  the  legislature,  passed  in 
1868,  the  village  of  Sun  Prairie  was  incorporated. 
Its  government  consists  of  a  j)i*esident  and  three 
trustees,  with  such  subordinate  officers  as  are  usual  in 
a  village  municipality,  all  of  whom  are  elected  an- 
nually. The  first  president,  Mr.  W.  H.  Angell,  held 
that  office  two  terms,  and  his  successors,  Messrs.  W. 
H.  Chandler,  C.  R.  Babcock,  C.  G.  Crosse,  John  Gib- 
bons, Geo.  Maloney  and  C.  C.  La  Bore,  one  term  each,  in 
the  order  in  which  they  are  named  - —  C.  G.  Crosse  be- 
ing the  present  incumbent.  The  present  trustees  are 
Messrs.  Win.  Small,  H.  Dirnfeldt  and  H.  Daniels. 

The  village  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  one  of  the 
most  productive  agricultural  districts  in  the  state  — 
about  twelve  miles  northeast  from  the  city  of  Madison 
and  seventy  miles  west  from  Milwaukee  —  and  is  the 
natural  outlet  for  the  productions  and  the  mart  of 
trade  for  quite  a  large  extent  of  country.  There  were 
shipped  from  this  point,  in  the  year  1876,  about 
120,000  bushels  of  wheat,  30,000  bushels  of  barley, 
17,000  bushels  of  oats  and  other  grain,  1,300  fat 
swine,  1,000  head  of  fat  cattle,  and  other  produce  in 
proportion.  There  is  at  present  a  population  of  about 
eight  hundred,  much  the  largest  number  of  whom  are 
American  born,  and  a  large  per  cent,  of  whom  are 
from  New  England.  A  few  intelligent  and  liberal- 
minded  Germans,  and  a  lesser  number  of  Irish,  serve 
to  enliven  and  jnve  zest  to  the  otherwise  staid  charac- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SUN    PRAIRIE.  323 

ter  of  the  inhabitants.  Many  of  the  citizens  are  ag- 
riculturists from  the  surrounding  country  who  have 
retired  from  their  farms  to  enjoy  the  school,  church 
and  society  privileges  of  the  village.  The  mechanic 
arts  are  quite  fully  represented;  numerous  workers  in 
metal  and  in  wood  ply  their  busy  trades  and  earn  lib- 
eral incomes  by  their  skill  as  artisans.  The  profes- 
sion of  the  law  has  one  representative,  that  of  medi- 
cine four,  and  the  clergy  six. 

The  mercantile  history  of  the  village  dates  from  the 
year  1842,  when  one  David  C.  Butterfield  —  a  quaint 
genius,  a  sort  of  "connecting  link"  between  the  In- 
dian and  Caucasian  —  became  proprietor  of  a  few  dry 
goods,  and  commenced  a  traffic  with  the  few  white 
settlers  and  more  numerous  Indians.  He  was  super- 
seded in  1844,  by  Edwin  Brayton,  who  continued  the 
business  about  one  year,  and  sold  out  to  Mr.  Silas 
Smith,  a  Methodist  preacher,  who  for  several  years 
eked  out  a  precarious  support  from  its  profits.  That 
the  occupation  of  a  merchant  in  those  early  years  was 
not  repaid  with  financial  success,  may  be  inferred 
from  the  facts  that  seventy  miles  of  ill-conditioned 
roads  intervened  between  it  and  any  market  for  the 
jjroduce  of  the  country;  that  no  means  of  transporta- 
tion existed  except  by  teams,  and  that  the  prices  of 
grain  in  Milwaukee  were  often  so  low  as  scarcely  to 
cover  the  cost  of  transportation.  This  preacher-mer- 
chant was  of  the  muscular  order  of  Christians,  as  well 
as  an  honest  and  upright  business  man,  and  when,  as 
sometimes  happened,  a  customer  became  rude  and 


324  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SUN    PEAIEIE. 

boisterous  in  consequence  of  having  indulged  too 
freely  in  the  then  rather  common  beverage,  whisky, 
the  preacher's  brawny  arm  soon  "  conquered  a  peace," 
and  sent  him  on  his  way  sobered  by  the  lesson  he  had 
received.  Frederick  Starr  was  successor  to  Mr.  Smith, 
and  after  a  brief  business  career,  he  was  followed  by 
Thomas  White.  In  1859,  Mr.  White,  having  failed 
in  business,  was  succeeded  by  Messrs.  Williams  & 
Maloney,  who,  by  their  enterprise  and  business  habits, 
soon  established  a  successful  trade,  of  which  Mr.  Geo. 
Maloney  is  the  present  representative.  The  business 
of  Mr.  Maloney  consists  of  one  of  the  most  extensive 
and  successful  dry  goods  and  general  merchandising 
establishments  in  the  village.  Mr.  C.  Ii.  Babcock  is 
proprietor  of  a  flourishing  business  in  dry  goods,  gro- 
ceries, etc.  His  stock  is  large  and  diversified,  and  his 
business  is  vigorously  and  efficiently  conducted.  He 
is  the  present  representative  of  the  firm  of  Babcock, 
Clark  &  Co.,  which  in  1861  succeeded  to  the  firm  of 
Main  &  Marvin,  which  had  been  in  existence  but  a 
brief  period.  Messrs.  Gilman,  Weigan  &  Moak  are 
a  new  firm,  which  has  recently  opened  up  a  fine  stock 
of  general  merchandise.  They  are  successors  to  the 
late  firm  of  Chittenden  &  Woodward,  which  succeeded 
to  that  of  Gilman  &  Curtis.  This  last  named  firm 
originated  in  1870,  and  was  the  pioneer  in  the  system 
of  "  ready  pay."  The  present  firm  will  steadily  ad- 
here to  this  principle,  and  are  deserving  of  patronage 
and  encouragement  in  carrying  out  this  necessary  re- 
form in  business.     Mr.  F.  H.  Hood  is  a  young  and 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SUN    PEAIEIE.  325 

enterprising  dealer  in  groceries,  ready-made  clothing, 
etc.  He  keeps  a  full  stock,  is  a  courteous  gentleman 
and  a  successful  business  man.  He  is  successor  to 
his  father,  Mr.  II.  Rood,  who  first  established  the 
business  in  1862.  Mr.  Benjamin  Franks,  a  dealer  in 
ready-made  clothing,  notions,  cigars,  etc.,  has  a  well 
selected  stock,  and  is  doing  a  good  business.  He  first 
established  the  business  in  1860.  Mr.  Geo.  "WTieelan, 
from  a  small  beginning  in  1862,  has  established  a 
flourishing  business  in  variety  goods  in  connection 
with  furniture  and  undertaking.  Miss  L.  E.  Stowe 
and  Mrs.  L.  Bird,  have  each  a  full  and  tastefully 
selected  stock  of  millinery  goods,  adapted  to  the  wants 
of  a  wide  range  of  customers.  Mr.  I.  D.  Hayden  has 
a  stock  of  stoves  and  tinware,  which,  in  connection 
with  his  manufacturing  and  repairing  shop,  make  a 
very  successful  establishment.  Messrs.  Bowen  & 
Svvanton,  and  also,  Mr.  E.  A.  Weigan,  dealers  in  grain 
and  all  kinds  of  farm  produce,  are  each  proprietors  of 
a  large  and  spacious  grain  elevator,  and  are  doing  a 
large  and  prosperous  business.  Col.  W.  H.  Angell 
is  the  proprietor  of  an  extensive  lumber  establish- 
ment, which  for  many  years  he  has  conducted  in  an 
eminently  successful  and  business-like  manner.  J.  D. 
Bird  is  also  a  lumber  merchant,  doing  quite  an  ex- 
tensive business.  John  Hecker  and  J.  G.  Egbertson 
are  severally  engaged  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of 
harness  and  other  wearing  apparel  for  horses.  Mr. 
II.  Dirnfeldt  is  proprietor  of  a  well-kept  and  bounti- 
fully supplied  meat  market. 

The  American  House,  originally  built  in  1850  by 


326  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SUN    TKAIRIE. 

~W\  F.  Ilardwick,  is  under  the  present  proprietorship 
of  Mr.  J.  E.  Mann,  and  is  the  largest  hotel  in  the 
village.  The  Sun  Prairie  House,  erected  by  Mr.  W. 
H.  Angell  in  1850,  and  for  many  years  conducted  by 
him,  is  now  presided  over  by  Mr.  A.  C.  Miller,  who 
is  a  genial  and  obliging  landlord.  Mr.  N".  Mosell  is 
the  gentlemanly  proprietor  of  a  large  and  commodi- 
ous hotel  called  the  Germania  House. 

The  trade  in  drugs  and  medicines  is  conducted  by 
Drs.  Crosse  and  Lewis.  The  manufacture  and  sale  of 
boots  and  shoes  by  G.  W.  Bull,  C.  A.  Sawyer,  W.  E. 
Morehouse  and  E.  Aschenburker.  That  of  wagons 
and  carriages  b}T  C.  C.  La  Bore,  J.  C.  Kanouse  and 
Jacob  Weicher;  and  blacksmithing,  in  all  its  branches, 
is  carried  on  by  John  Ditmas,  W.  Small,  J.  Sweeney, 
George  Kanouse  and  W.  D.  B.  Pincheon.  The  trade 
in  jewelry  is  represented  by  II.  J.  Bird. 

Of  societies,  there  are  six  church  organizations,  and 
a  lodge  each  of  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  Good  Temp- 
lars and  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  Preliminary  steps 
have  been  taken  and  a  liberal  fund  subscribed  for 
the  establishment  of  a  free  library  and  reading  room, 
and  undoubtedly  this  valuable  institution  will  soon 
become  an  established  feature  in  the  village.  A  first 
class  cornet  band  of  musicians  regales  the  lovers  of 
music  with  its  enlivening  strains. 

Considerable  taste  and  refinement  are  manifested 
by  the  citizens  in  the  character  of  their  private  resi- 
dences, and  much  enterprise  and  liberality  in  their 
public  buildings  and  improvements.  A  liberally  sup- 
ported and  well  conducted  graded  school,  with  a  tine 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SUN    PRAIRIE.  327 

building  beautifully  located  on  an  eminence  in  the 
western  part  of  the  village,  attests  the  intelligence 
and  liberality  of  the  people.  There  are  five  church 
buildings  —  the  Episcopal,  Methodists,  Baptists  and 
Congregationalists  have  each  a  large,  commodious 
and  elegant  house  of  worship,  and  the  Catholics  and 
German  Methodists  have  each  a  comfortable  but  more 
unpretending  building. 

The  absence  of  those  causes  of  disease  which  so 
constantly  exist  in  the  vicinity  of  towns  located  near 
watercourses,  renders  Sun  Prairie  almost  entirely  ex- 
empt from  all  diseases  of  malarial  origin,  while  the 
purity  of  its  water  supply  and  of  its  atmosphere,  the 
cleanliness  of  its  streets  and  public  places,  and  the 
wise  supervision  of  its  authorities,  render  the  visits 
of  those  frightful  epidemics  which  so  often  decimate 
the  population  of  other  localities,  quite  impossible. 

To  men  of  enterprise  and  business,  seeking  a  loca- 
tion for  manufactories  or  trade  away  from  the  disad- 
vantages which  are  to  be  contended  against  in  cities, 
Sun  Prairie  offers  a  peculiarly  inviting  prospect;  and 
the  country  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  by  its  fertility, 
its  facilities  for  market  and  the  cheap  prices  of  lands, 
offers  rare  inducements  to  farmers  and  others  who  de- 
sire to  invest  in  productive  real  estate,  and  to  all  who 
are  seeking  pleasant,  healthful  homes,  surrounded  by 
a  moral,  intelligent  and  refined  community,  few  places 
offer  greater  attractions.  It  is  probable,  therefore,  that 
in  the  not  distant  future,  a  season  of  renewed  prosperi- 
ty will  open  upon  the  village,  and  it  will  become  one 
of  the  brightest  little  gems  in  the  diadem  of  our  state. 


328  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SPRINGFIELD. 


SPKINGFIELD. 


BY  E.  HARDING. 


The  town  of  Springfield,  or  town  8,  north  of  range 
8  east,  is  situated  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Dane 
county,  about  ten  miles  northwest  of  Madison.  The 
dome  of  the  capitol,  and  even  parts  of  the  city  of 
Madison,  are  distinctly  seen  from  several  portions  of 
the  town.  The  lands  of  the  town  consist  of  oak 
openings  and  prairie;  the  surface,  especially  in  the 
western  part,  is  diversified  with  high  bluffs. 

The  only  stream  in  the  town  rises  in  section  10, 
and  flows  east,  and  enters  the  town  of  Westport,  into 
the  six  mile  creek,  thence  into  lake  Mendota.  Along 
this  stream  are  marsh  lands  that  have  become  valu- 
able by  drainage,  and  on  either  side  of  these  are 
woods  and  young  timber,  through  which  one  of  the 
old  Indian  trails  passed,  and  in  which  Indians  still  occa- 
sionally camp.  About  the  year  1850  or  '51,  the 
United  States  government  sent  west  some  five  hun- 
dred Indians,  and  in  passing  through  the  town,  they 
camped  over  Sunday  on  section  10.  They  were  under 
the  command  or  control  of  a  government  officer  from 
Indiana,  popularly  called  Cutall,  a  Frenchman,  and 
whose  name  we  are  informed,  was  Couteau,  in  French, 
signifying  a  knife.     But,  be  this  as  it  may,  he  did  not, 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SPRINGFIELD.  329 

as  his  name  indicates,  cut  them  in  pieces,  as  there  was 
a  numerous  return  of  them  the  following  summer. 

The  town  was  once  the  scene  of  a  bloody  conflict, 
which,  as  far  as  can  be  learned,  must  have  occurred 
between  the  Sac  and  Winnebago  Indians,  as  they 
had  many  and  desperate  feuds  before  the  early  pio- 
neers came  into  this  part  of  the  country.  Sec- 
tion 7,  on  the  line  between  Springfield  and  Berry, 
gives  evidence  of  what  one  of  these  contests  was,  as 
Mr.  G.  Hochstesin,  for  a  number  of  years,  desisted 
plowing  his  land,  on  account  of  the  number  of  human 
bones  on  this  section.  There  is  also  at  this  place  one, 
and  perhaps  two,  mounds  or  graves,  where  some  of 
the  slain  were  buried,  and  up  to  a  recent  date,  stones 
were  set,  or  piled  up,  to  mark  the  place.  Arrow  heads, 
and  other  Indian  relics  are  found  on  this  battle-field,  as 
also  in  other  portions  of  the  town. 

During  the  Black  Hawk  war,  it  is  probable  that 
Gen.  Atkinson  was  chief  in  command,  and  that  Zach. 
Taylor,  then  a  colonel,  was  in  command  of  a  part  of 
the  regular  troops.  It  appears  from  history  that  a 
good  deal  of  skirmishing  and  fighting  occurred  all 
through  the  country  from  Prairie  du  Ghien  to  Port- 
age. The  road  known  as  the  Military  road,  from 
Green  Bay  to  Chicago,  and  west  to  Prairie  du  Chien, 
crosses  the  town  of  Springfield,  and  the  army  march- 
ing along  this  road,  at  one  time  encamped  for  the 
night  on  section  9.  Jefferson  Davis  was  then  a 
lieutenant,  and  was  with  the  army  at  the  time  above 
mentioned. 


330  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SPRINGFIELD. 

It  is  related  that  Gen.  Taylor  left  Lieut.  Davis  at 
Prairie  du  Chien  and  went  to  Portage  to  look  after 
affairs,  and  that  while  away,  Davis  married  his  daugh- 
ter on  the  sly —  perhaps  he  has  done  worse  things 
since. 

The  town  was  first  settled  by  Ilawley  Simons 
and  family,  on  section  10,  in  1841.  His  house  was 
the  first  built  in  the  town.  The  following  year  Geo. 
Johnson  and  family  settled  on  section  4.  Mrs.  Simons 
and  Mrs.  Johnson  were  sisters.  Also,  about  the  same 
time,  Wm.  B.  Slaughter  settled  on  section  35,  and 
Win.  Bullock  on  section  31.  Mrs.  Johnson  and  Mr. 
Bullock  are  still  living  in  the  town,  while  Mr. 
Slaughter  is  now  living  in  Madison,  the  others  being 
all  dead. 

About  this  time  the  first  post  office  in  the  town 
was  established  at  Glark's  Corners.  Mr.  Clark  was 
postmaster,  and  once  a  week  the  mail  was  carried 
on  horseback  from  Madison  to  Sauk.  There  are 
now  four  mails  a  week  by  stage  between  Madison 
and  Sauk,  and  three  post  offices  —  Ashton,  post- 
master, C.  Dresen;  Springfield  Corners,  postmaster, 
Louis  Martini;  Hyer's  Corners,  postmaster,  D.  R. 
Hyer. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  town,  was  Eunice 
Johnson,  who  was  born  September  1,  1815.  She 
married  Mr.  Robert  Ford,  and  both  are  still  (1877) 
living  here.  The  first  marriage  was  Mr.  Geo.  How- 
ard to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Murray,  in  1811. 

The  first  physician  was  Dr.  Winston.     Since  then 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  SPRINGFIELD.  331 

Drs.  S.  L.  F.  Ward  and  A.  A.  Rowley  have  lived  and 
practiced  medicine  in  the  town.  Rev.  N".  Martin  of 
the  Baptist  church  was  the  first  minister  and  pastor. 
The  first  death  was  Mrs.  Frances  Gillett. 

Several  families  in  England  formed  a  colony  and 
sent  to  this  county  three  men  by  the  names  of  Reeves, 
Wilson  and  Goss,  as  agents  to  locate  lands;  these 
men  came  into  this  town  and  located  lands  on  sec- 
tions from  10  to  15  inclusive;  and  during  the  same 
year,  1816,  Messrs.  Hillier,  Gillett,  Bardsley,  Tinker, 
Kay,  Riley,  Tymmes,  Seston,  Boyer  and  others  ar- 
rived from  England  and  settled  here.  Some  of  them 
took  possession  of  the  lands  and  houses  provided  for 
them,  and  others  secured  places  for  themselves. 
Most,  if  not  all  of  the  families  forming  these  settle- 
ments were  poor.  The  county  was  a  wilderness,  with- 
out any  of  the  comforts  of  civilization,  and  proved  very 
discouraging  to  these  families  who  had  come  from 
thickly  settled  communities,  and  was  epecially  so  to 
the  women  and  children;  but  they  nobly  set  their 
faces  to  overcome  these  difficulties.  The  Indians  gave 
them  some  trouble  and  occasionally  a  good  deal  of 
fright,  entering  their  homes  and  demanding  some- 
thing to  eat,  and  seldom  leaving  until  their  wants  were 
well  supplied,  on  which  occasions  they  would  eat 
enormously,  and  then  lay  down  and  sleep,  often  for  a 
night  and  a  day,  and  on  getting  up  would  give  a 
"  ugh  "  and  start  off. 

Bears  and  other  wild  beasts  proved  a  great  annoy- 
ance.    The   wolves  would  carry  off  their  pigs,  and 


332  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SPRINGFIELD. 

frequently  attack  the  larger  animals.  Mr.  Tinker 
relates  that  they  would  come  at  night  in  packs 
around  his  house,  howling  so  terribly  that  they  were 
unable  to  sleep,  and  he  has  often  shot  them  from  his 
windows.  The  territory  paid  him  a  bounty  of  five 
dollars  for  each  one  he  killed. 

The  first  bread  used  by  these  families  was  made 
from  Indian,  or  corn  meal,  which  they  prepared  by 
rasping  on  a  tin  grater,  and  the  first  wheat  flour 
used  in  the  settlements  was  very  tediously  ground 
in  coffee  mills.  Several  of  the  families  brought  these 
coffee  mills  with  them  from  England,  and  one  would 
borrow  of  the  other  until  all  had  ground  their  grist. 
They  cleaned  the  wheat  by  spreading  it  on  their  rough 
table,  and  then  hand-picking  it.  The  first  fanning  mill 
was  owned  by  J.  Knipschild,  at  what  was  then  called 
Clark's  Corners  (now  Springfield  Corners);  after  that 
the  neighbors  carried  their  grists  to  his  place  to  be 
cleaned.  The  first  flouring  mill  accessible  to  the  people 
was  Hicock's  mill,  in  Iowa  county,  and  as  they  went 
with  oxen,  it  was  a  long  and  tedious  journey.  On  one 
occasion,  Mr.  Bardsley  relates  that  he  was  gone  about 
two  weeks. 

It  is  amusing,  at  this  late  day,  to  hear  them  tell  of 
some  of  their  experiences  in  wood  chopping.  Ihe 
idea  of  chopping  down  large  trees  whose  bark  seemed 
capable  of  resisting  the  strongest  of  axes,  was  some- 
thing entirely  new  to  them,  and  on  one  occasion  three 
of  them  traveled  all  day  trying  to  find  soft  trees, 
but  not  finding  any,  returned  at  night  wearied  and 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SPRINGFIELD.  333 

disappointed  with  their  day's  toil.  In  one  instance, 
a  man  built  a  staging  of  old  logs  around  a  tree  and 
cut  it  off,  leaving  the  stump  four  or  five  feet  high; 
he  did  this  for  the  reason  that  the  tree  was  smaller  at 
that  distance  from  the  ground.  For  years  the  stump, 
from  its  conspicuousness,  was  a  wonder  to  many,  as 
they  could  not  comprehend  why  it  was  thus  cut,  until 
the  above  fact  was  learned.  But  as  these  men  came 
from  factories  in  England,  it  is  not  matter  of  won- 
der that  they  were  not  very  expert  backwoodsmen. 
Of  those  that  came  over  in  this  colony,  Geo.  Gillett, 
"Win.  Bardsley,  H.  Tinker  and  Mrs.  Hillier  are  still 
living  in  the  town.  The  others  are  either  dead  or 
removed  to  other  places. 

The  town  of  Springfield  was  organized  in  1848. 
and  the  election  of  officers  was  held  at  the  house  of 
George  Gillett,  when  about  twenty  votes  were  cast. 
There  were  also  about  twenty-seven  children  in  the 
town  between  the  ages  of  four  and  twenty. 

Officers  elected:  J.  M.  Babcock,  (chairman),  R. 
"Winston,  D.  Coda,  Supervisors;  B.  Downing,  Clerk. 
J.  M.  Babcock  died  before  the  close  of  the  year,  and 
P.  S.  Rider  was  elected  chairman  to  fill  the  vacancy. 
At  the  election  held  April  3,  1877,  266  votes  were 
cast  (there  are  about  300  voters  in  the  town),  and  637 
children  between  four  and  twenty  years.  During  the 
twenty -nine  years  that  the  town  has  been  organized, 
nine  different  persons  have  served  as  chairmen. 
Wm.  Bardsley  has  served  nine  years;  R.  Ford  has 
served  four  years;  N.  Martin  has  served  three  years; 


334  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SPRINGFIELD. 

D.  Ford  lias  served  six  years,  and  was  reelected  April 
3,  1877.  Julius  "Weisenbom  (now  of  Black  Earth), 
was  elected  town  clerk  three  years  consecutively. 
Thos.  Binegal,  three  years  consecutively;  E.  Harding, 
twelve  years  consecutively;  B.  Esser,  three  years  con- 
secutively; J.  Esser,  three  years  consecutively. 

During  the  late  war  the  town  of  Springfield  fur- 
nished its  entire  quota  of  soldiers  for  the  United 
States  army.  Among  those  entering  the  army,  there 
were  between  fifty  and  sixty  residents  of  the  town. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  those  who  went  from 
the  town,  so  far  as  ascertained:  Lieut.  J.  B.  Hillier, 
M.  Palmer,1  Lieut.  C.  Northrop,1  G.  Bealer,1  Sergt.  J. 

E.  Bardsley,  C.  Ford,  Corp.  J.  W.  Hillier,2  St.  Clair 
Z.  Jones,  Corp.  M.  Queenen,2  A.  K.  Pierce,  H.  Young,2 
Sergt.  C.  Pierce,  "W".  Young,3  J.  Jones,  D.  Young,1 
Coval  Jones,  P.  Ford,3  J.  Gunther,  J.  Ford,  "Win. 
Jones,1  P.  Bonner,4  J.  Camm,  "Wm.  Gillett,  —  Faum- 
burg,  P.  Gillett,  T.  A.  Perry,1  S.  Slack,  Sergt.  J. 
Dinsmore,  "Wm.  Klausman,  D.  Dinsmore,  G.  S.  Mar- 
tin, G.  S.  Martin,  Jr.,2  H.  Martin,  P.  Lent,  A.  Goudy,1 
A.  Quest,  Ferd.  Pape,  —  Cameron,  L.  P.  Flagler,1  J. 
Halter,1  Abram  Ackerson,  Anton  Brandt,  J.  Stone, 
C.  Howe,  "Wm.  Howard,  —  Kline,  —  "Wagner,  J.  Se 
brcight,  "Wm.  Marden,  P.  Shaffhausen,  O.  Hayes, 
—  Lifermon,  "W.  Johnson,  D.  Perry.1 

The  Young  family  deserve  especial  mention.  Mr. 
Young  sent  three  sons  to  the  army.  Wesley  was 
killed  in  battle,  Daniel  died  in  hospital,  and  Horton 

'Died.        5  Wounded.        s  Killed.        4  Drowned. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SPRINGFIELD.  335 

had  both  arms  shot  off,  but  recovering,  returned  home 
and  is  still  living. 

Springfield  raised  during  the  years  1863-5,  twenty- 
three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  tax  for  soldiers' 
bounty;  this  sum  was  considerably  increased  by  pri- 
vate subscriptions,  so  that  in  all  it  probably  amounted 
to  near  thirty  thousand  dollars. 

In  the  neighborhood  known  as  Fordville,  there  is  a 
library  containing  four  hundred  volumes.  This  libra- 
ry was  first  started  in  1858,  at  a  cost  of  about  five 
hundred  dollars;  one  hundred  dollars  of  this  amount 
was  donated  in  money  and  books  by  persons  outside 
of  the  neighborhood.  The  principal  persons  in  or- 
ganizing this  library  were  the  Fords,  Groves,  Poyners 
and  Mr.  Leitch.  The  officers  at  present  are:  D.  Ford, 
president;  C.  Poyner,  secretary;  C.  R.  Chipman, 
treasurer;  A.  Ford,  librarian.  The  Library  Associa- 
tion holds  weekly  meetings,  and  has  had  a  valuable  in- 
fluence in  the  community. 

Mr.  David  Ford  has  represented  the  3d  assembly 
district  in  the  state  legislature  two  terms. 

Mr.  Bernard  Esser  was  elected  clerk  of  the  circuit 
court  in  1874,  and  reelected  in  1876. 

The  principal  productions  of  the  town  for  several 
years  have  been  wheat,  corn  and  oats ;  but  during  the 
last  few  years  more  attention  has  been  given  to  stock 
raising,  and  a  more  general  plan  of  farming  has  been 
adopted. 

The  soil  compares  favorably  with  the  soil  of  any 
town  in  Dane  county. 


336  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS SL'EINGFIELD. 

Mr.  Geo.  Kingsley  built  a  cheese  factory  on  section 
12,  and  carries  on  its  manufacture. 

The  first  market  for  the  early  settlers  was  Mil- 
waukee, and  the  usual  conveyance  ox  teams.  The 
price  obtained  for  wheat  was  twenty-five  cents,  oats 
ten  cents  per  bushel,  and  the  time  occupied  in  making 
a  trip  about  two  weeks,  if  they  had  good  success.  If 
they  brought  back  freight  for  the  merchants  in  Madi- 
son they  did  pretty  well;  but  if  not,  they  frequently 
came  back  in  debt.  The  markets  now  are  good.  The 
center  of  the  town  is  about  four  and  a  half  miles 
from  Middleton  Station,  on  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee 
and  St.  Paul  Railroad,  and  about  six  miles  from  Wau- 
nakee,  on  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railroad. 
These  are  both  good  markets  for  produce  of  all  kinds. 

By  the  increase  of  wealth  and  comfort,  log  houses 
have  given  place  to  good  substantial  frame,  stone  and 
brick  structures;  and  in  many  places  during  the  last 
few  years,  large  and  convenient  barns  have  been  built, 
showing  that  a  large  number  of  citizens  have  been 
successful  in  accumulating  considerable  property. 

School  and  church  privileges  are  abundant,  so  that 
none  need  be  ignorant  for  want  of  the  one,  nor  wicked 
for  the  lack  of  the  other. 

The  first  school  house  built  in  the  town  was  a  log 
building,  on  sec.  12,  known  as  Johnson's  school 
house.  A  good  frame  structure  now  stands  in  its 
stead.  There  are  now  eleven  school  and  joint  school 
districts,  and  nine  school  houses.  There  are  also  two 
German  schools. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS SPRINGFIELD.  337 

There  are  three  churches:  St.  Peter's,  on  sec.  7; 
St.  Martin's,  on  sec.  27;  Springfield  M.  E.  Church, 
sec.  22.  Pev.  Mr.  Hoyt  preaches  the  first  Sabbath  in 
eacli  month  in  the  school  house,  on  sec.  12. 

Ashton  Lodge,  No.  83,  I.  O.  of  G.  T.,  has  a  good 
convenient  hall  on  the  Sauk  road  near  the  centre  of 
the  town.  The  lodge  was  instituted  May  12,  1871, 
and  meets  regularly  on  Friday  evening  of  each  week. 

At  ITyer's  Corners  is  a  good  hotel,  with  D.  P.  Hyer 
as  proprietor,  who  cheerfully  attends  to  the  wants  of 
the  traveling  public.  J.  Stebbins  keeps  a  store  there, 
and  is  also  engaged  in  wagon  making,  while  C.  Yosen 
has  a  blacksmith  shop. 

At  Springfield  Corners,  Louis  Martini  keeps  a  good 
store,  and  does  a  thriving  business.  EL  Bohl  has  a 
blacksmith  shop.  Jacob  Gross  keeps  a  store  on  the 
road  leading  from  Springfield  Corners  to  Hyer's  Cor- 
ners. F.  La  Fay  has  a  smithey  at  Ashton  P.  O. 
and  is  a  good  workman.  There  are  four  saloons  in 
the  town:  John  Esser,  on  sec.  27;  C.  Dresen,  Ashton 
P.  O.;  Michel  Karls,  on  section  7;  and  John  Michels, 
also  on  section  7. 
22 


33S  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS — STOUGIITON. 


STOUGHTOK 

BY  GEOKGE  W.  CURRIEIl. 

Origin  and  Growth.  —  In  surveying  a  new  coun- 
try, members  of  the  surveying  party  are  ever  on  the 
alert  for  mining  lands,  water  privileges,  and  other 
natural  properties  which  may  at  some  future  time 
tend  to  locate  towns.  It  is  said  that  daring  the  sur- 
vey of  this  territory  some  of  the  men,  high  in  official 
position,  made  arrangements  with  the  party  to  select 
some  of  the  best  water  powers,  and  that,  in  this  way 
and  for  this  reason,  Daniel  "Webster  obtained  posses- 
sion of  a  large  portion  of  the  present  site  of  Stough- 
ton.  Mr.  Luke  Stonghton,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Wisconsin,  in  his  travels  over  the  country,  had  long 
noted  the  water  power  here,  and  the  advantages  which 
this  section  offered  for  the  location  of  a  village.  In 
1S47,  he  concluded  a  purchase  from  Daniel  Webster 
of  a  large  tract  of  land,  including  the  site  of  the  vil- 
lage. He  immediately  set  to  work  to  improve  it, 
erecting  a  sawmill  that  is  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
Mandt,  and  a  store  upon  the  present  site  of  Williams' 
Block.  The  village  was  soon  laid  out,  and  induce- 
ments were  offered  for  people  to  settle.  Mr.  Alvin 
West  was  the  first  person  who  brought  a  family  here. 
He  built  a  residence  where  the  Higbee  House  now 
stands,  and  by  November,  1847,  they  were  snugly  en- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS STOUGHTON,  339 


sconced  therein.  Their  house  being  opened  to  the 
public,  the  genial,  hospitable  manner  of  the  host  and 
hostess,  together  with  the  notableness  of  the  latter  as 
housekeeper,  soon  made  it  a  favorite  with  the  travel- 
ing public.  The  winter  of  1847  passed  away,  and  the 
spring  opened  hopefully.  As  early  as  was  practicable, 
other  houses  clustered  around  the  nucleus  formed  the 
ATear  before.  During  this  summer,  Mr.  Colten  and 
Mr.  "Westcott  put  up  the  brick  building  that  still 
stands  by  the  upper  bridge,  and  soon  after  purchased 
a  residence  not  far  from  it.  This  residence  is  associ- 
ated, in  the  minds  of  the  first  settlers,  with  many 
social  gatherings;  the  inspiration  of  such  occasions 
usually  being  a  violin  —  the  pioneers'  inseparable 
friend.  In  1850,  Mr.  Stoughton  put  up  a  small 
gristmill  to  supply  the  needs  of  the  people,  and  after- 
wards built  a  larger  one.  About  this  time  a  school 
house  was  erected,  and  Miss  Fannie  Duncan,  who  had 
already  opened  a  school  in  a  small  building  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  moved  into  the  new  building 
when  completed.  Another  public  house  was  opened 
by  Mr.  H.  ITolley  (the  building  having  been  erected 
by  Mr.  C.  Roby),  under  whose  genial  proprietorship 
it  figured  as  the  Crockett  House.  It  afterwards  took 
on  the  more  euphonious  name  of  Yahara  Hotel,  thus 
rescuing  the  Indian  name  of  the  river,  near  whose 
bank  it  stood,  from  oblivion.  The  prospect  of  a  rail- 
road at  this  time  (which  was  completed  to  this  point 
in  1856)  gave  an  impetus  to  the  growth  of  the  little 
village.     Men  of  capital  and  business  talent  were  at- 


340  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  STOUGHTON. 

tracted  to  the  place,  who,  by  their  energy  and  enter- 
prise, materially  added  to  the  building  up  of  the 
town.  Mr.  West  finding  his  accommodations  for  the 
public  too  limited,  in  1853,  commenced  and  completed 
a  commodious  brick  hotel.  In  1855,  Dr.  W.  "W. 
Blackmail  and  Mr.  J.  R.  Boyce  erected  a  brick  build- 
ing, from  whence  they  dispensed  drugs  for  many 
years.  The  doctor  practiced  medicine  for  a  long 
time,  and  was  accounted  very  skillful.  Both  of  these 
gentlemen  built  fine  residences,  which  are  still  orna- 
ments to  the  village.  In  the  midst  of  this  high  tide 
of  progress,  a  disaster  befell  the  little  village  which 
materially  injured  its  prosperity.  The  new  gristmill 
which  Mr.  S.  had  just  completed  was  undermined  by 
water-rats  and  fell  —  a  complete  wreck.  Mr.  S.,  be- 
ing in  feeble  health,  felt  unequal  to  the  task  of  re- 
building; consequently  he  sold  the  mill  site  to  Mr. 
Bay  Jenkins,  who  immediately  commenced  the  work 
of  reconstruction. 

From  that  time  until  the  present,  the  growth  of 
the  village  has  been  so  rapid  that  our  space  forbids  us 
to  mention  only  a  few  of  the  more  notable  features. 
The  Opera  House,  built  by  Mr.  Nelson  "Williams,  is  a 
fine  structure  and  an  ornament  to  the  town.  It  con- 
tains one  of  the  best  halls  in  this  section.  In  1876, 
Mr.  O.  M.  Turner  fenced  and  cleared  a  beautiful  park 
east  of  the  depot,  and  built  a  fine  race  course.  Many 
of  the  oldest  settlers  of  this  section  still  live  in  and 
around  the  village.  Messrs.  Nelson  and  Isham  still 
live   in    the  town,  Mr.  Utter  in  Rutland,  and  Mr. 


OrEKA  House,  Stougiiton. 


DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  STOUGHTON.  343 

Emerson  in  the  village  The  future  prospects  for 
the  village  are  good,  and  more  building  is  being  done 
this  year  than  for  some  time  previous.  A  grain  ele- 
vator and  tobacco  warehouse  are  to  be  built  this  spring. 

Scenery.  —  Stoughton  is  often  called  a  New  Eng- 
land village,  and  in  many  respects  it  resembles  one. 
Situated  on  high  rolling  ground,  in  the  bend  of  the 
Catfish,  or  Yahara  river,  it  truly  has  a  beautiful  site. 
The  country  around  combines  some  of  the  natural 
beauty  of  New  England,  with  the  fine  prairies  of 
Southern  Wisconsin. 

First,  or  Kegonsa  Lake,  is  situated  north  of  the 
village,  and  is  a  popular  resort  in  warm  weather.  It 
is  one  of  the  prettiest  sheets  of  water  in  the  state. 
"Beautiful  maple  and  oak  groves  line  the  banks,  and 
the  waters  abound  in  finny  inhabitants.  A  large 
steamer  is  now  in  proceess  of  building  in  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  and  will  be  put  upon  the  lake  this  season.  The 
owner  is  Mr.  J.  I.  Williams,  a  wealthy  citizen  of  that 
place,  who  owns  a  fine  farm  by  the  lake.  Summer 
travelers  will  find  here  plenty  of  outdoor  amusements, 
a  healthful  climate,  good  accommodations  and  cheap 
rates. 

Exports  and  Imports.  —  Stoughton  is  surrounded 
by  a  fine  farming  country,  and  the  exports  from  here 
consist  of  ordinary  farm  produce,  grain,  stock,  hay, 
potatoes,  tobacco,  and  articles  manufactured  here. 
Besides  the  common  articles  imported  into  western 
towns,  Messrs.  Melaas,  Steenerson  &  Co.  have  estab- 
lished here  an  agency  for  the  famous  Lofoten  Cod 


3J4  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  STOUGHTON. 

Liver  Oil.  They  import  direct  from  Norway  large 
quantities  of  this  medicine,  and  ship  it  to  all  parts  of 
the  United  States.  It  has  a  reputation  unexcelled  by 
any  oil  of  this  kind  in  the  world,  and  on  account  of 
its  freshness,  purity  and  comparatively  pleasant  taste, 
many  physicians  will  use  no  other. 

Manufactures.  —  At  the  head  of  the  list  of  manu- 
facturers must  be  placed  Mr.  T.  Gr.  Mandt.  About 
twelve  years  a^o,  he  commenced  work  here  on  an 
anvil.  By  constant  perseverance  and  unflagging  en- 
ergy he  is  now  proprietor  of  an  extensive  factory  em- 
ploying about  eighty  men,  and  furnished  with  all  the 
modern  machinery  for  building  carriages  and  farm 
wagons,  cutters  and  heavy  sleighs  of  every  descrip- 
tion. Messrs.  Norris  &  Beattie  are  the  present  own- 
ers of  the  mill  property,  and  annually  manufacture 
large  quantities  of  flour  for  eastern  markets.  There 
are  two  cigar  factories,  the  more  extensive  run  by  Mr. 
J.  S.  Hutson,  and  the  other  by  Mr.  J.  W.  P.  Lusk. 
Messrs.  Matthews  and  Ivlinsr  manufacture  thousands 
of  brooms  yearly,  which  they  ship  to  the  northern 
part  of  the  state.  Mr.  Knute  Olson  supplies  this  sec- 
tion with  harnesses,  and  has  sent  several  shipments  to 
Norway.  In  addition,  we  may  say  that  this  village 
offers  many  inducements  to  manufacturers.  There  is 
yet  a  large  amount  of  water  power  not  utilized;  the 
location  is  good;  labor  cheap,  and  opportunities  for 
transportation  excellent. 

Newspapers.  —  The  first  paper  published  in  Stough- 
ton  was  the  Independent,  by  Henry  J.  Walker,  and 


BUSINESS  INTERESTS  OF  STOUGHTON. 


The  Village  of  Stoughton  is  the  second  commercial 
mart  in  the  county,  and  as  an  index  to  the  general  busi- 
ness interests,  we  publish  the  following  list  showing  the 
leading  merchants  and  business  men  of  the  place: 

Stoughton  State  Bank,  <).  M.  Turner,  Ties.,  Frank  Lelancl,  Vice 
Pres. ;  A.  L.  Hollo,  Physician  and  Surgeon;  L.  K.  Luse,  Attorney- 
at-Law;  T.  W.  Evans,  Physician  and  Surgeon;  L.  D.  Clark,  Hom- 
eopathic Physician  and  Surgeon;  Dr.  A.  P.  Lusk,  Dentist;  D.  D. 
Camp,  Jeweler;  Amos  Flyte,  Wagons  and  Carriages;  Mrs.  J.  M. 
Hibbard,  Millinery;  H.  W.  Hole,  Dry  Goods;  H.  J.  Rhodes,  Bar- 
ber; Sarbacker  &  Hurd,  Harness  Makers;  T.  A.  Thprenson,  Barber; 
Rothe  &  Gunderson,  Hardware;  O.  X.  Falks,  Druggist;  S.  H.  Sev- 
erson  &  Co.,  Lumber;  O.  O.  Melaas,  Druggist;  K.Olson  A:  Co.,  Har- 
ness Makers;  Mrs.  Cid.  C.  Isham,  Ladies'  Furnishing  Goods;  A.  T. 
Higbee,  Hotel  Keeper  and  Livery;  T.  G.  Mandt,  Wagons  and  Car- 
riages; Johnson  &  Melaas,  Clothing;  Norris  &  Beattie,  Stoughton 
Mill ;  Hans  H.  Swan,  Boots  and  Shoes ;  John  Brickson,  Grocer ;  N. 
Jensen,  Boots  and  Shoes;  Currier  &  Parish,  Stoughton  "Courier;" 
W.  H.  Dumond,  Restaurant ;  W.  D.  Potter,  General  Merchandise; 
Hibbard  &  Camp,  Variety  Store;  Win.  H.  Leedle,  Clerk  of  Grange 
Store;  J.  D.  Baker,  Express  Agent;  Osman  Halvorsen,  Saloon;  N. 
Swager,  Tinsmith;  W.  A:  Ferman,  Photographer;  S.  A.  Stenerson, 
Clerk;  N.  Anderson,  General  Merchandise;  A.  Nelson,  Clerk;  K. 
Olson,  Tailor;  A.  E.  McMannus,  Confectionery;  G.  W.  Wood  & 
Co.,  General  Merchandise;  O.  Peterson,  Bakery;  C.  Larson,  Wagon 
and  Plow  Factory;  J.  H.  Laughlin,  Telegraph  Operator;  J.  Erick- 
son,  Wagons  and  Carriages;  Guilder  Anderson,  Saloon;  F.  Frank- 
ton,  ;  P.  Peterson,  Cutter;  Matthews  &  Kling,  Broom  Makers; 

E.  E.  Warner,  Carpenter;  N.  C.  Nelson,  Hotel;  O.  F.  Tipple,  Liv- 
ery; W.  H.  Miller, ;  T.  Carlsen,  Tobacco  Dealer;  Ella  Brown, 

Hotel  Keeper. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS — STOUGUTON.  347 

was  started  early  in  the  summer  of  1857.  lie  con- 
tinued the  publication  until  the  fall  of  the  same  year, 
when  he  sold  to  W.  A.  Giles,  who  changed  the  name 
to  the  Wisconsin  Signal,  and  run  it  until  the  spring 
of  1859,  when  he  removed  the  press  and  printing  ma- 
terial to  Prairie  du  Chien.  The  same  summer  L.  W. 
Powell,  who  was  publishing  a  paper  at  Brodhead, 
moved  his  office  to  Stoughton  and  commenced  issuing 
the  Stoughton  Reporter.  In  1863,  I.  A.  Hoxie,  now 
of  Evansville,  entered  into  .partnership  with  Mr. 
Powell,  but  only  continued  six  months.  Soon  after 
Mr.  Frank  Allen  bought  a  half  interest.  For  over 
ten  years  the  name  was  not  changed.  Mr.  Allen,  Mr. 
C.  D.  Wells,  and  finally  Mr.  A.  C.  Croft,  owned  the 
office  and  published  the  paper.  Mr.  Croft  sold  the 
press  and  material  in  1874,  and  Mr.  Frank  Allen 
bought  new  stock  and  commenced  printing  the  Sig- 
nal. Early  in  1876,  Geo.  W.  Currier  purchased  half 
of  the  office  and  changed  the  name  to  the  Stoughton 
Courier,  which  was  published  by  Kling  &  Currier 
until  May,  1877,  when  Mr.  C.  E.  Parish  purchased 
the  interest  of  Mr.  Kling. 

Dunkirk  Township,  of  which  Stoughton  is  situated 
in  the  northwest  corner,  is  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
the  county,  and  known  as  township  5  north,  of  range 
11  east.  It  is  one  of  the  original  towns  in  the  organ- 
ization of  the  county  in  1816.  The  first  settler  was 
John  Nelson,  a  Norwegian,  in  1843,  and  afterwards 
came  John  Wheeler,  —  Jaymes,  Jesse  Utter,  Chan- 
cey  Isham,  S.  H.  Roys,  Richard  Palmer,  Campbell 


348  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  STOUGHTON. 

and  "William  Saunders,  John  Estes,  Levi  Farnliam, 
Joseph  Vroman,  Joseph  Cannon,  and  John  Blake. 
The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Lyons,  and  Abner  Barlow  was  elected  first  supervisor. 

The  Yahara,  or  Catfish,  enters  the  town  on  section 
4,  in  the  north,  and  makes  a  circuitous  bend  through 
eleven  sections,  in  a  south  and  southeasterly  direction, 
leaving  the  town  on  section  35  and  passing  into  the 
towns  of  Fulton  and  Porter,  in  Rock  county,  then 
into  Rock  river.  Its  bank  exhibits  many  beautiful 
landscapes,  and  affords  excellent  opportunities  for 
hunting  and  fishing,  while  it  furnishes  very  superior 
waterpower,  some  of  which  is  yet  unused. 

The  land  is  very  rich  and  productive,  consisting  of 
oak  openings,  prairie  and  marsh  —  the  marsh  land  be- 
ing near  the  Catfish,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town. 

The  village  of  Dunkirk,  three  miles  from  Stough- 
ton,  is  a  small  place  on  the  edge  of  the  Catfish,  on 
section  21,  and  has  a  grist  mill  and  blacksmith  shop. 
In  1837,  Alex.  F.  Pratt,  now  of  Waukesha,  in  com- 
pany with  Augustus  Story,  started  for  the  mining  re- 
gions, and  passing  from  "Waukesha  (then  Prairie  vil- 
lage), to  Fort  Atkinson,  and  thence  to  the  Catfish,  en- 
camped on  the  present  site  of  the  village,  where  they 
were  so  beset  with  wolves  till  morning,  that  they  were 
necessitated  to  keep  their  fire  replenished  with  wood 
to  prevent  their  being  attacked,  as  they  were  both 
numerous  and  savage,  and  kept  close  watch  of  them. 

There  is  a  large  Norwegian  settlement  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  town. 

Chttkciies.  —  In  so  limited  space,  we  are  unable  to 


DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  STOUGHTON.  349 

give  much  of  the  history  of  the  seven  churches  now 
standing  in  this  place.  For  several  years,  meetings 
were  held  in  the  old  school-house.  Father  Sewell,  as 
he  was  familiarly  called,  who  then  resided  in  the  town 
of  Porter,  came  very  often,  and  ministers  of  other  de- 
nominations assisted  him  in  filling  the  pulpit.  After 
the  schoolhouse  became  unfit  for  use,  meetings  were 
held  in  a  hall  over  Mr.  J.  R.  Boyce's  drug  store;  and 
sometimes,  when  the  key  was  missing,  good  Mrs. 
Sewell  heard  the  children  recite  their  scripture  les- 
sons on  the  stairs.  In  1858  the  Universalist  church 
was  erected,  and  dedicated  the  summer  following. 
The  Baptist  church  was  built  next  in  1861.  The  de- 
dicatory sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  E.  J.  Good- 
speed,  then  of  Janesville.  The  Congregational  church 
was  built  in  1863,  and  dedicated  on  the  last  day  of  that 
year;  sermon  by  the  Rev.  M.  P.  Kinney  of  Janes- 
ville. The  Methodist  chureh,  in  1867;  sermon  by  Rev. 
Col.  Fallows.  The  first  Norwegian  Lutheran  church 
was  built  in  1S67,  Rev.  M.  Falch  Gjertsen,  pastor, 
and  the  Norwegian  Evangelical  Lutheran  Christ 
Church,  in  1S75,  Rev.  C.  M.  Hvistendahl,  pastor;  and 
the  Catholic  church  in  1868.  Since  the  death  of  Father 
Sewell,  who,  during  his  life  and  long  residence  in 
Stoughton,  did  noble  work  for  Christ  and  his  religion 
and  for  the  advancement  of  all  good  causes,  the  Con- 
gregational church  has  been  without  a  regular  pastor. 
Rev.  Mr.  Hendricks  was  the  last  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
church.  Rev.  Mr.  Garfield  of  Jefferson,  fills  the  Uni- 
versalist pulpit ;  Rev.  C.  E.  Goldthorpe,  the  Methodist; 
Rev.  M .  F.  Gjertsen,  the  Lutheran ;  Rev.  C.  M.  Hvis- 


350  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  STOUGUTON. 

tendahl,  the  Lutheran  Christ.    Services  in  the  Catholic 
church  are  conducted  by  Father  Butler,  of  Edgerton. 

Hotels.  —  There  are  several  hotels.  The  Iligbee 
House,  kept  by  A.  T.  Iligbee,  is  really  a  first  class 
house;  and  boarders  and  transient  guests  receive  good 
attention.  The  National  is  run  and  patronized  largely 
by  Scandinavians. 

Schools.  —  From  the  little  old  school-house  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river,  as  a  beginning,  there  now  is  a 
fine  three-story  brick  building,  standing  on  an  emi- 
nence east  of  the  river,  and  commanding  one  of  the 
finest  views  to  be  found  in  this  section.  This  building 
was  formally  opened  in  December,  1862,  with  prayer 
by  Rev.  R.  Sewell;  an  address  by  the  state  superin- 
tendent, Hon.  J.  L.  Pickard,  and  remarks  by  countv 
superintendent  Barlow  and  others,  interspersed  with 
band  music  and  choir  singing.  This  being  found 
inadequate  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  fast  increasing 
population,  a  new  building,  even  larger  than  the  pres- 
ent one,  is  now  in  process  of  erection  on  the  same 
grounds.  When  finished,  the  two  buildings  will  ac- 
commodate five  hundred  students.  A  free  high  school 
has  been  established  under  the  state  law  of  18  75.  The 
teachers  now  in  charge  of  the  several  departments  are 
as  follows:  George  W.  Currier,  principal  of  High 
School;  Manila  Douglass,  teacher,  Grammar  Depart- 
ment; Mary  E.  Tedder,  teacher,  Intermediate  De- 
partment; Annie  Wyman,  teacher,  Primary  Depart- 
ment. The  following  named  gentlemen  constitute 
the  very  efficient  school  board:  W.  D.  Potter,  clerk; 
M.  Johnson,  treasurer;  Dr.  L.  D.  Clark,  director. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS CHRISTIANA.  351 


CHRISTIANA. 

BY  CHAS.  N.  BROWN  AND  OTHERS. 

Tins  town  is  the  second  from  the  southern,  and  im- 
mediately upon  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  county, 
occupying- the  whole  of  township  6  north,  range  12 
east.  It  was  named,  we  believe,  at  the  suggestion  of 
the  early  Norwegian  settlers,  in  honor  of  the  capital 
of  their  native  country,  and  was  set  off  from  Albion, 
which  bounds  it  on  the  south,  and  organized  as  a  sep- 
arate town,  May  6,  1S47. 

The  town  was  at  first  attached  to  the  town  of 
Albion  for  township  system  of  government,  and  it  was 
organized  as  a  separate  town,  and  elected  its  own  town 
officers,  only  a  short  time  before  Wisconsin  became  a 
state.  The  first  annual  town  election  held  after  Wis- 
consin had  entered  into  the  family  of  states,  was  in 
the  spring  of  1819,  and  the  town  board  then  elected 
were:  Randolph  Brown  as  chairman,  with  Nathan  G. 
Van  Horn  and  Daniel  Davidson  as  assistant  super- 
visors, and  Gabriel  Bjornson  as  town  clerk.  The 
town  has,  since  the  above  time,  furnished  four  mem- 
bers for  the  legislature,  and  two  county  officers,  as 
follows:  Gabriel  Bjornson  was  elected  member  of  as- 
sembly in  the  year  1850;  Daniel  B.  Crandall  was 
next  elected  member  of  assembly  in  the  year  1857; 
William  D.  Potter  was  elected  member  of  assembly 


352  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  CHRISTIANA. 

in  18G5,  and  Jolm  E.  Johnson  in  the  year  1868.  Ga- 
briel Bjornson  was  next  elected  clerk  of  the  county 
board  of  supervisors  in  the  year  1852,  and  reelected 
in  1S51.  And  Charles  Cornelinson  was  elected  regis- 
ter  of  deeds  in  the  year  1856.  Of  the  above  named 
persons  only  John  E.  Johnson  is  now  residing  here; 
Randolph  Brown,  Charles  Cornelinson  and  Daniel  B. 
Crandall  being  dead.  Daniel  Davidson  is  residing 
somewhere  in  California;  William  D.  Potter  residing 
in  Stoughton,  in  this  county,  and  Gabriel  Bjornson 
now  a  resident  of  Madison.  The  residence  of  Nathan 
G.  Van  Horn  is  unknown. 

Of  the  early  settlers  at  Utica,  S.  ~W\  Coon  and  W-. 
H.  H.  Coon  are  yet  residing  there,  both  of  whom,  in 
their  honorable  old  age,  enjoy  the  confidence  and  re- 
spect  of  the  community  of  which  they  are  members. 

There  are  in  this  town  three  small  villages,  the 
largest  of  which  is  Cambridge,  situated  in  the  north- 
eastern part  upon  Koshkonong  creek,  and  described 
in  the  next  chapter.  Clinton,  the  next  in  size,  is  sit- 
uated upon  the  same  stream,  in  the  eastern  part,  and 
Utica,  the  smallest,  which,  in  fact,  is  so  small  that  it 
hardly  lays  claim  to  the  title  of  village,  and  is  upon 
no  stream  at  all,  lies  in  the  western  part.  The  popu- 
lation of  the  town  in  1875,  was  nearly  1,700,  the  larger 
proportion  of  which  are  foreigners,  of  whom  nearly 
all  are  Norwegians. 

The  surface,  which  is  gently  undulating,  is  diversi- 
fied with  prairie  and  oak-openings,  and  to  the  eye  of 
a  farmer,  this  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  towns  in 


BANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  CHRISTIANA.  353 

the  county.  These  oak  openings  were  so  named  from 
the  fact  that  the  annual  burning  over  of  the  county 
by  Indian  tribes  kept  the  timber  so  entirely  free  from 
underbrush,  that  a  team  could  be  easily  driven  through 
it  in  any  direction;  it  was  this  openness,  contrasted 
with  the  denseness  of  forests  of  other  states,  that  sug- 
gested the  name  "openings."  As  soon,  however,  as 
the  annual  fires  ceased,  and  the  original  timber  was 
cut  off,  there  sprang  up  the  dense  second-growth 
which  is  familiar  to  all,  and  which  is  now,  though  we 
think  improperly,  called  oak-openings. 

Koshkonong  prairie  is  nearly  all  included  within 
its  boundaries,  lying  in  the  southern,  central,  and 
western  portions  of  it.  The  surface  of  this  prairie  is 
moderately  rolling,  and  its  soil,  for  fertility,  is  un- 
surpassed by  any  in  the  state,  almost  incredible  sto- 
ries being  told  of  the  yields  of  wheat  upon  it,  before 
the  success  of  that  crop  was  sadly  interfered  with  by 
the  chinch  bug.  This  prairie  is  named  after  Koshko- 
nong lake,  which  touches  the  extreme  southeastern 
corner  of  the  county,  the  banks  of  which  were  favor- 
ite hunting  and  camping  grounds  of  the  Sacs  and 
Foxes,  as  the  remains  of  their  cornfields,  still  faintly 
visible,  testify,  and  its  name,  in  the  Indian  tongue,  is 
said  to  signify,  "  The  lake  we  live  on." 

Koshkonong  creek  is  the  most  important  stream, 
and  enters  the  town  somewhat  south  of  the  north- 
eastern corner,  flows  through  the  eastern  tier  of  sec- 
tions, and  leaves  it  very  near  the  southeastern  cor- 
ner. As  this  stream  is  quite  rapid,  it  affords  first 
23 


354  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS CHRISTIANA. 

class  facilities  for  milling  purposes,  tliere  being  two 
grist  mills  in  the  town,  one  at  Cambridge  and  an- 
other at  Clinton,  the  latter  having  one  of  the  finest 
water  powers  in  this  part  of  the  state,  and  doing  a 
large  custom  and  flouring  business. 

The  other  streams  are  Mud  creek  in  the  north,  and 
Saunders'  creek  in  the  south,  but  they  are  of  little 
importance.  Along  the  banks  of  these  streams  the 
surface  is  more  broken  and  less  favorable  for  agri- 
cultural purposes,  and  in  some  places  there  are  large 
marshes,  some  of  which,  in  the  days  of  the  first  set- 
tlers, were  so  wet  as  to  be  nearly  valueless,  but  which 
are  now  dry  enough  to  furnish  pasturage  or  excellent 
hay. 

Previous  to  its  settlement,  this  was  a  favorite  hunt- 
ing ground  with  the  settlers  in  adjoining  towns.  Deer 
were  then  very  plenty,  and  one  of  the  favorite  methods 
of  hunting  them  in  winter,  was  to  get  what  was  called 
a  "drive"  on  them.  Taking  advantage  of  their  curi- 
osity,  and  knowing  they  could  be  easily  approached 
with  a  team,  several  men  in  a  sleigh  followed  their 
trail  until  within  rifle  shot,  when  the  team  was  turned 
and  driven  around  the  deer,  the  men  jumping  out  be- 
hind trees  at  convenient  intervals.  As  soon  as  they 
were  well  surrounded  the  firing  commenced,  and  the 
deer  were  driven  from  one  side  of  the  circle  to  the 
other,  a  large  number  frequently  being  killed  before 
the  herd  succeeded  in  making  its  escape.  This  was 
also  a  favorite  hunting  ground  of  the  Indians,  but  the 
trail  which  connected  Koshkonong  and  First  lakes, 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  CHRISTIANA.  355 


only  slight  traces  of  which  are  now  to  be  found,  is 
about  the  only  trace  of  their  occupancy  which  they 
have  left.  This  trail  entered  the  limits  of  the  town 
near  the  southeastern  corner,  ran  a  little  to  the  south 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  crossed  the  farms  of  Thos. 
Carpenter,  Nils  Torgerson,  John  E.  Johnson  and  Rev. 
J.  A.  Ottesen;  thence  bending  slightly  to  the  south, 
it  led  to  the  large  spring  on  Samuel  Coon's  farm, 
which  was  one  of  their  favorite  stopping  places.  At 
the  time  of  the  Black  Hawk  war  there  were  no  set- 
tlers in  this  town,  and  probably  no  fighting,  although 
Black  Hawk  and  his  warriors,  in  their  retreat  from 
the  Rock  to  the  Wisconsin  river,  in  the  early  part  of 
July,  1832,  crossed  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  and 
encamped  for  some  time  near  Koshkonong  creek.  An 
account  of  his  sufferings  at  this  place  will  be  found  in 
the  succeeding  chapter. 

Wm.  M.  May  hew  was  the  first  settler  of  the  town, 
and  located  on  section  23,  in  1837.  He  was  a  South- 
erner by  birth,  and,  previous  to  the  great  financial 
panic  of  that  year,  was  a  prominent  merchant  in  Mil- 
waukee. Losing  his  property  at  this  time,  he  came 
to  this  town,  and  built  a  log  house,  on  what  is  now 
the  land  of  Geo.  Odell,  at  the  foot  of  quite  a  steep  bluff, 
where  for  many  years  he  kept  a  tavern.  This  was  one 
of  the  regular  stopping  places  of  the  teamsters  draw- 
ing lead  from  the  mines  near  the  Blue  Mounds  to 
Milwaukee.  Old  settlers,  entirely  unaccustomed  to 
the  handling  of  lead,  tell  us,  that  to  them,  their  wagons 
appeared  almost  empty.      But,  nevertheless,  three  or 


35Q  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS CHRISTIANA. 

four  yoke  of  oxen  were  required  to  draw  the  wagons 
over  the  rough  roads,  and  the  shouts  and  curses. of  the 
teamsters  as  they  urged  their  oxen  up  the  steep  as- 
cent the  other  side  of  Mayhew's,  could  be  heard  for 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  around.  For  many  years 
Mayhew's  was  a  center  of  interest,  Christiana  post- 
office,  the  first,  and  for  many  years  the  only  one  in 
the  town,  being  kept  here,  and  as  the  nearest  office 
was  at  Milton,  this  was  the  place  at  which  nearly  all 
the  settlers  in  adjoining  towns  received  their  mail. 
Here,  also,  was  held  the  first  town  meeting  and  several 
subsequent  ones. 

In  1842,  a  number  of  settlers  arrived,  most  of  them 
being  emigrants  from  Norway.  Prominent  among 
these  were  Hellik  Gunderson,  Jul  Gisleson,  Nils 
Olsen  Smithback,  and  Thosten  Levorson,  all  of  whom 
except  the  latter,  are  now  living.  This  was  almost 
the  beginning  of  Norwegian  emigration  to  the  United 
States,  and  was  induced  by  the  glowing  descriptions 
o£  the  mildness  of  the  climate,  the  beauty  of  the  prai- 
ries, and  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  given  by  members 
of  a  small  colony  from  Norway,  which,  a  few  years 
before,  had  settled  in  Walworth  county,  near  the  state 
line.  This  report  was  printed  in  pamphlet  form,  and 
being  quite  extensively  circulated  in  Norway,  was 
largely  instrumental  in  giving  an  impetus  to  emigra- 
tion to  this  country.  The  arrivals  spoken  of  were 
only  the  beginning  of  a  more  extensive  emigration  of 
Norwegians  to  this  section,  and  in  the  five  years  follow- 
ing, the  greater  portion  of  the  town  was  settled  by  them. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS CURISTIANA.  357 

Accustomed,  in  their  native  country,  only  to  tim- 
bered land,  these  early  settlers  shunned  the  prairie, 
which  seemed  desolate  and  cheerless  to  them,  but 
which  is  now  considered  as  the  more  desirable  land, 
and  settled  in  the  edges  of  the  openings,  and  along  the 
marshes. 

In  the  fall  of  1S46,  N.  A.  Perry  arrived  at  the 
present  site  of  Clinton,  and  erected  the  first  house,  in 
which  he  boarded  the  hands  who  were  at  work  on  the 
mill-dam.  In  the  following  year,  the  mill  itself  was 
built  by  Thos.  and  Nathan  G.Van  Horn.  In  the  fall 
of  1848,  the  first  store  was  opened  by  Wardner  Earle, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1849,  Christiana  postoffice  was  re- 
moved from  Mayhew's  to  this'  place.  Not  many 
years  after  its  settlement  a  brewery  was  established 
in  this  place  by  one  Lewis,  but  after  a  few  years  its 
place  was  taken  by  a  distillery,  built  by  Mr.  Jacobson, 
which,  however,  has  not  been  in  operation  for  some 
years.  The  present  proprietors  of  the  Christiana  mills 
are  O.  II.  Lee  &  Co.,  and  the  present  merchant  is  C. 
Tollefson,  who  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens 
of  the  place,  and  who  is  doing  quite  an  extensive 
business. 

The  first  settlers  at  Utica  were  Samuel  Head  and 
S.  H.  Coon,  who  arrived  in  December,  1845,  and  who 
immediately  built  the  first  house,  which  was  a  one- 
story  log  affair  (12x16)  with  a  shed  roof.  In  this 
they  wintered,  and  in  the  following  spring  built  an 
addition  of  equal  size,  making  a  gable  roof.  In  1846, 
Hampton    Crandall,  W.  H.  H.  Coon    and  Eandolph 


358  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  CHRISTIANA. 

Brown  arrived,  and  in  a  short  time  this  portion  of  the 
town  was  settled,  principally  by  people  from  central 
New  York.  These  settlers,  who,  excepting  Mr.  May- 
hew,  were  the  first  Americans  in  the  town,  instead  of 
locating,  as  most  of  the  Norwegians  had  done,  in  the 
openings,  nearly  all  settled  on  the  prairie.  The  first 
store  in  Utica,  which  was  of  gravel,  was  opened  in 
1851  by  Le  Roy  Crandall,  now  of  Lawrence,  Kansas, 
and  here  soon  after  the  removal  of  Christiana  post- 
office  from  Mayhew's  to  Clinton,  Utica  postoffice, 
named  in  honor  of  Utica,  New  York,  was  established. 
The  old  gravel  store  was  taken  down  in  1872  and  re- 
placed by  a  larger  one  of  wood,  now  owned  by  W.  H. 
IT.  Coon.  This  made  the  second  store  in  the  place, 
one  having  been  erected  by  F.  E.  Olsen  in  1869. 

As  has  been  before  mentioned,  to  Clinton  belongs 
the  distinction  of  being  the  place  in  which  the  first 
and  only  distillery  in  the  town  was  started,  and  to 
Utica,  we  believe,  belongs  the  honor  of  being  the 
starting  point  of  temperance  reform  in  this  section. 
Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  town,  a  town  meet- 
ing was  being  held  at  this  place,  in  the  old  gravel 
school  house,  still  standing  but  unused.  Some  of  the 
candidates  from  the  eastern  portion  of  the  town  had 
furnished  a  keg  of  whisky,  which  was  to  serve  the 
double  purpose  of  catching  votes  and  enlivening  the 
occasion  generally.  The  dispensers  of  this  beverage 
improvised  a  bar-room  in  the  end  of  a  shed  belonging 
to  one  of  the  neighboring  settlers,  and  were  having 
an  exceedingly  jolly  time,  when  the  owner  of   the 


AGRICULTURE. 

From  Mitchell's  New  School  Geography. 


DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS CUKISTIANA  361 

shed  came  in,  and  embracing  a  moment  when  all  were 
busily  drinking,  seized  the  keg,  and,  carrying  it  into 
the  middle  of  the  road,  put  a  heavy  fence  rail  through 
it,  greatly  to  the  damage  of  the  whisky,  and  the  dis- 
gust of  the  imbibers. 

The  early  settlers  endured  many  hardships,  and 
often  carried  on  their  agricultural  operations  in  the 
most  primitive  manner.  The  section  of  a  large 
round  tree,  usually  shod  with  iron,  often  formed  the 
wheels  of  their  carts  or  wagons,  and  until  the  intro- 
duction of  threshing  machines  in  1848,  the  prevailing 
mode  of  threshing  was  indentical  with  that  which  has 
been  practiced  in  Oriental  countries  for  the  last  three 
thousand  years.  A  large  dry  spot  of  ground  was 
cleared  off  evenly,  and  packed  as  hard  as  possible. 
Upon  this  the  grain  was  placed  to  the  depth  of  a  foot 
or  more,  with  the  heads  in,  and  five  or  six  yoke  of 
oxen  were  driven  over  it  until  the  grain  was  all  trod- 
den out.  The  straw  was  then  thrown  off  with  forks, 
and  the  grain  separated  from  the  chaff  with  fanning 
mills.  The  first  threshing  machines,  introduced  at 
the  date  mentioned,  were  without  separators,  and 
were  an  improvement  upon  the  method  described  in 
little  else  than  speed  and  cleanliness.  To  sell  their 
grain,  a  trip  to  Milwaukee,  which  was  then  their  only 
market,  was  necessary,  and  which  usually  occupied  a 
week,  the  wheat  bringing  from  thirty  to  fifty  cents, 
and  in  some  instances  even  less. 

The  first  church  in  the  town  was  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  denomination,  and  was  organized  in  1844, 


362  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  CHRISTIANA. 

with  Rev.  Mr.  Dietrichsen  as  pastor.  The  same  year 
a  log  church  was  built  by  this  society  on  section  27, 
which  was  superseded  in  1858,  by  a  neat  and  commodi- 
ous building  of  stone.  During  the  first  pastorate,  one 
of  the  members,  who  was  under  discipline,  made  his 
appearance  at  church  services  one  Sunday,  and  was 
peremptorily  ordered  out.  He  declined  to  leave,  when 
the  militant  clergyman  ordered  some  of  the  members 
to  throw  him  out  of  doors  by  main  strength.  Feel- 
ing himself  seriously  aggrieved,  he  sued  the  pastor 
before  Justice  David  Still  man,  at  Albion  Center.  His 
attorney  was  Bjorn  Anderson,  father  of  Prof.  R.  B. 
Anderson,  of  the  University  of  "Wisconsin.  (By  the 
way,  the  Professor's  mother  was  the  first  white  wo- 
man in  the  town  of  Albion.)  The  pastor  pleaded 
his  own  case,  but  was  beaten  and  fined  five  dol- 
lars. Not  long  after  this,  becoming  disgusted  with 
this  country,  he  returned  to  Norway,  where  we  hope 
that  he  conducted  his  pastoral  affairs  so  successfully, 
that  from  a  clergyman  militant,  he  became  a  clergy- 
man triumphant.  Mr.  Dietrichsen  was  succeeded  in 
1850,  by  Rev.  A.  C.  Preus,  and  he  in  1860,  by  Rev.  J. 
A.  Ottesen,  the  present  pastor,  who  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  among  his  countrymen  in  this  and 
adjoining  states. 

In  addition  to  the  church  already  mentioned,  there 
are  three  other  church  organizations:  the  Methodist 
and  Presbyterian,  located  at  Cambridge,  and  which  are 
mentioned  in  the  chapter  following,  and  the  Seventh- 
Day  Baptists,  which  are  located   near  Utica.     This 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS CHRISTIANA.  363 

church  was  organized  in  1850,  with  Rev.  Z.  Camp- 
bell as  pastor,  and  has  a  very  neat  and  pleasantly 
located  house  which  was  built  in  1866.  The  pres- 
ent pastor,  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Burdick,  is  a  young  man  of 
much  promise. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  town,  before  newspapers 
were  so  generally  taken  by  farmers,  it  was  necessary 
for  politicians  and  candidates  for  office  to  take  greater 
pains  to  look  up  their  country  friends,  and  enlist  them 
in  their  behalf,  than  at  present.  Intent  upon  looking 
up  their  friends,  Judge  J.  G.  Knapp  and  Mr.  Wilcox, 
the  former  being  candidate  for  district  attorney,  and 
the  latter  for  state  senator,  came  into  the  town,  and 
after  a  meeting  at  which  they  spoke,  put  up  for  the 
night  with  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  in  the 
vicinity.  As  the  house  was  small,  and  pretty  well 
filled  already,  they  occupied  a  bed  belonging  to  a 
young  man  who  was  expected  to  be  absent  for  the 
night.  Rather  late  the  next  morning,  a  brother  of 
the  gentleman  with  whom  they  went  home,  supposing 
that  the  usual  occupant  of  the  bed  had  returned  in 
the  night,  and  thinking  it  was  high  time  he  was 
awake,  went  into  the  room,  and  seeing  an  empty  meal 
bag,  took  it  and  laid  it  over  the  heads  of  the  candi- 
dates very  smartly  several  times.  We  are  told  that 
their  astonishment  at  being  thus  suddenly  and  rudely 
wakened  from  a  sound  sleep,  was  only  equaled  by  his 
consternation  upon  seeing  that  he  was  belaboring  a 
couple  of  strange  gentlemen  from  Madison;  indeed, 
even  now,  though  twenty-five  years  have  elapsed,  he 


361  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS — CHRISTIANA. 

recalls  very  vividly  his  fright  when  he  beheld  Mr. 
Wilcox's  nightcap  rising  from  among  the  bedclothes. 

The  first  public  school  was  kept  by  Mrs.  Wm.  May- 
hew,  at  her  husband's  tavern,  in  the  winter  of  1845-6. 
The  first  school  house,  which  was  a  rough  log  struc- 
ture, was  built  very  soon  after  on  section  10,  and 
which  remained  standing  until  within  a  few  years. 
From  these  small  beginnings  in  educational  matters, 
WTe  have  achieved  very  satisfactory  results.  We  have 
now  ten  school  houses  in  the  town,  the  majority  be- 
ing almost  new,  those  of  districts  No.  2,  5  and  7  be- 
ing more  than  usually  elegant  buildings  of  brick,  well 
furnished.  District  number  5  is  in  Cambridge,  and 
is  a  commodious  two  story  house,  and  is  kept  as  a 
graded  school. 

In  common  with  nearly  all  the  towns  in  the  vicin- 
ity, until  within  a  few  years,  the  principal  crop  has 
been  wheat,  but  since  its  yield  has  been  so  seriously 
affected  by  the  chinch-bug  and  other  causes,  many  of 
our  best  farmers  have  engaged  more  extensively  in 
the  raising  of  live  stock,  and  as  a  consequence,  have 
largely  increased  the  area  of  their  corn  fields.  In 
1876,  the  acreage  of  the  various  crops  was  as  follows: 
Timothy  or  clover,  1,859;  oats,  1,922:  wheat,  2,155; 
corn,  3,457;  barley,  1,166. 

Previous  to  1871,  but  a  small  amount  of  tobacco 
was  grown  in  the  town,  but  as  those  who  had  culti- 
vated it  found  the  soil  adapted  to  it,  and  as  it  was  at 
this  time  bringing  a  high  price,  many  farmers  en- 
gaged extensively  in  its  culture.     The  subsequent  de- 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS* — CHRISTIANA.  3G5 

cline  in  prices,  consequent  upon  over  production, 
drove  many  to  abandon  it,  and  though  not  now  so  ex- 
tensively grown  as  a  few  years  previous,  its  culture  is 
still  quite  an  important  branch  of  agricultural  indus- 
try, the  area  grown  in  1876  being  328  acres. 


366  DANE    COUNTY  "TOWNS  —  CAMBRIDGE. 


CAMBEIDGE. 

BY  HON.  GEO.  DOW  AND  A.  B.  CARPENTER. 

Cambridge  village  is  situated  on  the  extreme  east- 
ern part  of  the  county,  in  the  township  of  Christiana, 
and  about  twenty-four  miles  southeast  of  Madison. 
It  is  beautifully  situated  on  both  sides  of  the  Kosko- 
nong  creek,  with  picturesque  surrounding  of  oak 
openings  and  prairie  lands.  Immediately  south  of 
the  village  the  country  was  very  marshy,  but  now 
sufficiently  improved  to  be  used  for  pasturage;  though 
in  the  early  settlement  of  the  town  and  before  a  road 
was  made  through,  it  was  almost  impassible  in  wet 
weather,  and  here  it  is  said  Black  Hawk  and  his  peo- 
ple took  refuge  in  1S32,  after  passing  through  Fort 
Atkinson,  on  his  way  to  the  Mississippi.  On  the  dry 
spots  between  Cambridge  and  Clinton,  he  and  his 
people  could  camp  safe  and  dry,  while  the  difficulty 
of  access  precluded  any  possibility  of  his  being  mo- 
lested by  the  troops.  Here,  Black  Hawk  says,  his 
sufferings  were  very  great,  as  there  was  but  very  little 
game  or  fish  to  be  had,  and  his  people  were  obliged 
to  dig  roots  and  bark  the  trees  to  satisfy  their  hunger, 
many  of  the  old  people  dying  from  actual  want.  The 
marching  and  countermarching  of  the  troops  deceived 
them  so  much  that  it  deterred  the  young  men  from 
separating  to  hunt  or  fish,  although  abundance  of  both 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS CAMBRIDGE.  367 

game  and  fish  were  to  be  found  immediately  outside 
of  their  surroundings.  Since  these  times,  considerable 
change  has  taken  place  in  the  character  of  the  land 
in  the  vicinity  of  Cambridge,  as  also  in  other  parts 
of  our  county,  the  results  of  cultivation  and  the  ex- 
tensive destruction  of  forest  trees  without  supplying 
their  place  with  other  timber.  Many  of  the  early 
settlers  can  remember  localities  where  were  rapid 
flowing  streams,  that  are  now  highly  cultivated  fields. 

In  1847,  Joseph  Keyes  (father  of  E.  W.  Keyes,  of 
political  fame),  Abel  Keyes,  and  A.  B.  Carpenter,  now 
of  Beloit,  purchased  the  water  power  and  land  forming 
the  village,  and  surveyed  and  laid  it  out  in  July  of 
the  same  year,  and,  early  in  the  following  fall,  built 
the  first  dwelling  house.  During  the  same  year  they 
built  the  inevitable  adjunct  of  an  American  village,  a 
saw  and  grist  mill,  together  with  a  store  for  the  sale 
of  merchandise. 

The  same  vear  the  Hon.  Geo.  Dow  and  Mr.  Wheel- 
er  built  a  hotel  (the  Cambridge  House),  and  another 
store,  and  there  also  were  several  trades  establish- 
ments. In  1856  Mr.  Dow  brought  a  carding  ma- 
chine into  the  village  for  the  preparing  of  wool. 

At  the  close  of  the  first  year,  the  village  grew  so 
rapidly,  and  daily  receiving  additions,  that  it  numbered 
about  500  inhabitants,  and  celebrated  its  anniversary 
with  that  of  the  nation's  on  July  4th,  1848,  on  which 
occasion  there  were  delegates  from  Madison,  Lake 
Mills,  Jefferson,  Fort  Atkinson  and  other  adjoining 
towns,  numbering  about  3,000  persons.     The  proces- 


368  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS CAMBRIDGE. 

sion  formed  in  front  of  the  Cambridge  House,  and 
was  preceded  to  the  stand  by  the  Cambridge  Rifle 
Company  and  the  Madison  Brass  Band.  Prayer  was 
offered  by  Rev.  Wm.  Cargen,  the  Declaration  read  by 
Wm.  Welch,  Esq.,  of  Madison,  and  the  oration  by  Dr. 
L.  Ravella  Humphrey,  of  Beloit. 

The  first  store  in  the  village  was  kept  by  A.  B.  Car- 
penter and  Norman  Dutcher,  under  the  firm  name  of 
A.  B.  Carpenter  &  Co.  The  upper  part  of  the  store 
was  used  as  a  dwelling  house,  and  access  obtained  by 
a  ladder  which,  for  better  protection,  was  swung  up 
at  night.  For  several  years  the  Indians  were  rather 
troublesome  from  their  begging  propensities,  but  were 
never  hostile  except  in  some  of  their  drunken  carous- 
als, when  it  was  then  deemed  unsafe  to  either  encoun- 
ter or  have  them  near  the  village. 

"When  Cambridge  was  first  laid  out,  the  surround- 
ing land  was  still  unentered,  and  could  be  purchased 
at  government  figures,  and  Mr.  A.  B.  Carpenter  at 
that  time  entered  1,000  acres,  which  has  proved  to  be 
among  the  richest  and  most  fertile  lands  in  the  state. 
The  laying  out  of  the  village  was  done  under  an  assur- 
ance from  the  Milwaukee  and  Prairie  du  Chien  Rail- 
road that  they  would  pass  through  there;  a  promise 
which  they  never  kept,  but  toward  which  the  early 
settlers  spent  large  amounts  of  money  in  expectation 
of  their  so  doing.  Wheat  in  those  days  brought  25 
cents  a  bushel,  and  oats  10  cents,  and  had  to  be  mar- 
keted in  Milwaukee,  where  merchandise  was  brought 
back  in  exchange,  sometimes  packed  in  flour  barrels, 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS CAMBRIDGE.  369 

tliat  cost  at  that  time  55  cents  each,  empty,  and  were 
again  returned  full  of  flour. 

In  1864,  Hon.  George  Dow  built  a  woolen  mill, 
and  a  large  amount  of  superior  woolen  goods  have 
been  manufactured  there,  and  sold  throughout  both 
the  county  and  state.  In  IS 74,  a  cheese  factory  was 
also  started  by  Mr.  Dow,  and  has  met  with  merited 
success. 

The  'scenery  around  Cambridge  is  beautifully  di- 
versified by  prairie,  woodlands,  cultivated  farms  and 
small  lakes,  the  principal  one  of  which  is  Ripley,  or 
Dow's  Lake.  It  is  of  considerable  depth,  and  embraces 
a  circuit  of  four  miles  in  circumference;  its  water  pure 
and  clear  as  crystal,  and,  together  with  the  other  lakes 
abounding  in  the  numerous  varieties  of  fish  to  be  found 
in  the  lakes  around  Madison,  as  also  all  kinds  of  game, 
in  fact,  the  country  around  Cambridge  was  noted  at 
one  time  as  the  hunter's  paradise.  Mr.  Dow  recol- 
lects seeing  as  many  as  200  deer  in  a  drove,  and  often 
75  to  100. 

There  are  two  churches  in  the  village,  one  Method- 
ist and  one  Presbyterian.  In  early  times,  the  people 
attended  church  in  an  old  log  cabin;  and  for  want  of 
better,  sat  on  fence  boards  laid  across  stakes  of  wood. 
The  Methodist  church  was  organized  in  1848,  and  the 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  Mr.  Hansen.  The  Presbyter- 
ian Church  in  1817,  and  its  present  pastor,  the  Rev. 
John  Patterson. 

The  village  is  also  the  residence  of  the  celebrated 
surgeon,  Dr.  J.  C.  Dundas,  whose  reputation  as  one  of 
24 


370  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS CAMBRIDGE. 

the  most  skillful  surgeons,  is  well  and  widely  known 
throughout  all  the  northwest.  He  studied  his  profession 
in  Europe  among  the  universities  of  England,  Hol- 
land, Germany,  Russia  and  Norway,  and  entered  the 
Holland  service  as  a  surgeon,  was  for  over  two  years 
in  that  capacity  in  the  empires  of  China  and  Japan. 
Dr.  L.  C.  Clark  is  also  a  physician  and  surgeon  in  the 
village,  with  a  good  wide  practice  throughout  the 
township  and  those  adjoining,  where  he  is  highly 
esteemed  for  his  professional  ability  and  courtesy. 

The  present  population  of  Cambridge  is  about  400 
inhabitants,  and  the  business  is  principally  confined 
to  supplying  the  wants  of  the  surrounding  country. 
Anions  those  eno-aored  in  business  are  the  following: 
S.  H.  Butler,  cabinetmaker;  Messrs.  George  Dow  & 
Son,  commission  merchants;  Thomas  Overson,  hard- 
ware dealer;  A.  H.  Kroerh,  manufacturer  of  artificia) 
limbs;  Thomas  Slagg,  drugs  and  groceries;  James  T. 
Gilbert  &  Brother,  hotel  keepers;  Olson  &  Hodges, 
merchants;  J.  C.  Dundas,  physician  and  surgeon; 
L.  C.  Clark,  physician  and  surgeon;  Hans  Anderson, 
boot  and  shoe  maker;  John  Johnson,  tailor;  P.  A. 
England,  and  Samuel  Irwin,  blacksmiths;  T.  N".  Save, 
boot  and  shoe  maker,  Ho vey,  Bros.  &  Co., merchants; 
and  David  Schoe,  manufacturer  of  agricultural  mach- 
inery. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS PLEASANT    SPRINGS.  37l 


PLEASANT  SPRINGS. 

BY  A.  R.  AMES,  ESQ. 

The  town  of  Pleasant  Springs,  about  twelve  miles 
southeast  from  Madison,  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Cottage  Grove;  on  the  east  by  Christiana;  on  the 
south  by  Dunkirk,  and  on  the  west  by  Dunn.  In 
the  government  surveys,  it  is  designated  as  township 
six  north,  range  eleven  east  of  the  fourth  principal 
meridian. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
John  Patterson,  April  4,  1848.  Only  twenty  votes 
were  cast,  and  the  following  named  were  declared 
duly  elected:  Supervisors —  Daniel  Wheeler,  Chair- 
man, John  Patterson,  John  Ketcham.  Clerk  —  John 
Sunderman.  Justice  of  the  Peace  —  Daniel  Wheeler. 
Commissioners  of  Highways  —  John  S.  Dailey,  Peter 
S.  Markham,  Archibald  Griffith.  School  Commis- 
sioners—  John  Sunderman,  Archibald  Griffith,  Jacob 
Stombough.  Assessors — John  Patterson,  Robert 
McComb.  Treasurer — Winard  Dingman.  Consta- 
hie  —  Ezra  H  ortan.  Jfence  Viewers  —  Jacob  Wald ruf , 
Jacob  Patterson.  Among  other  early  settlers  were 
K.  H.  Roe,  A.  Seaverson,  K.  Kittleson,  K.  A.  Juve, 
K.  A.  Joitel,  Francis  B.  and  John  W.  Ames,  James 
Bronte,  Abraham  Devoe  and  Zina  Gilbert. 

Pleasant  Springs  received  its  name  from  a  large 


372      DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  PLEASANT    SPEINGS. 

spring  on  the  land  of  Ole  Evenson,  on  section  twenty- 
seven,  and  numerous  smaller  ones  in  different  parts 
of  the  town.  The  first  church  was  built  where  the 
Lutheran  church  now  stands,  on  section  fourteen. 
The  first  sermon  preached  by  Pastor  W.  Dietrichson, 
under  a  large  oak  tree  on  A.  K.  Juve's  farm,  Septem- 
ber 2,  1844.  The  first  school  was  taught  in  a  private 
house.  The  first  school  house  was  built  on  section 
twenty-five. 

From  a  historical  sketch  of  Dane  county,  in  Harri- 
son &  Warner's  Atlas,  we  find  the  following:  "Abel 
Rasdall,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Four  Lake  region, 
was  born  in  Barren  county,  Kentucky,  August  15, 
1815.  When  a  young  man,  he  went  to  Wisconsin 
and  engaged  in  lead  mining,  and,  in  1828,  went  to 
Galena,  and  assisted  awhile  Col.  James  Morrison  in 
his  mining  operations  at  Porter's  Grove,  about  nine 
miles  from  Blue  Mounds.  He  soon  engaged  in  the 
business  of  an  Indian  trader,  locating  his  cabin  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  First  Lake  (now  in  Pleasant  Springs), 
about  half  a  mile  south  of  its  outlet.  He  married 
a  Winnebago  woman,  who  was  a  real  helpmate  to  him 
in  the  Indian  trade.  She  sickened  and  died  of  small 
pox,  Mr.  Basdall  alone  attending  her,  and  burying 
her  remains.  He  subsequently  married  another  of 
the  same  tribe,*  but  when  her  people  migrated  west, 
she  concluded  to  go  with  them,  so  Rasdall  and   his 

[*  This  squaw  had  no  nose,  her  former  husband  having  inflicted 
the  Indian  penalty  for  infidelity.  She  always  covered  her  face  with 
her  blanket. — Pub.] 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS PLEASANT    SPKINGS.       373 

Indian  wife  cut  a  blanket  in  two,  each  taking  a  part  — 
the  Indian  mode  of  divorce.  *  *  Galena  was  the 
point  at  which  he  obtained  his  goods,  and  where  he 
disposed  of  his  furs  and  peltry.  He  did  service  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  was  one  of  fourteen  men 
who  were  sent  forward  as  a  scout  when  Gen.  Dodge 
was  pursuing  the  Indians  from  Rock  river  westward, 
before  the  battle  of  Wisconsin  Heights.  The  party, 
which  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Gentry,  was  sent 
forward  to  reconnoitre  and  prevent  a  surprise  by  the 
main  body  of  Indians,  which  they  were  assured  were 
but  little  in  advance,  as  was  afterwards  proven,  for 
this  was  the  morning  of  the  memorable  21st  of  July, 
near  the  eve  of  which  was  fought  the  battle  of  Wis- 
con  sin  Heights." 

About  the  same  time  Joe  Pelkie  and  Louis  Ar- 
mell,  French  Canadian  traders,  were  located  here. 
They  also  had  squaws  for  their  wives.  Josiah  A. 
Noonan,  when  appointed  by  Judge  Doty  to  make  ar- 
rangements for  a  surveying  party  to  go  to  Madison 
and  meander  the  shores  of  Third  and  Dead  Lakes, 
with  a  view  of  platting  out  the  western  addition  to 
"  Madison,  accompanied  the  party  on  horseback,  and, 
after  staying  with  them  four  days,  provisions  being 
very  scarce,  started  for  First  Lake.  The  first  night 
he  put  up  with  Pelkie  and  Armell,  where  he  found 
good  forage  for  his  horse,  and  an  abundance  of  pota- 
toes and  salt  for  himself.  The  next  morning,  with  a 
couple  of  good,  large  potatoes  in  his  overcoat  pockets, 
he  started  for  Fort  Atkinson.     The  country  he  found 


374      DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS — PLEASANT    SPRINGS. 

poorly  surveyed,  being  unable  to  make  his  lines  or 
courses,  and  was  necessitated  to  take  the  wind  for  his 
guide.  The  old  Indian  trail  between  Fort  Atkinson 
and  First  Lake  crossed  sections  thirteen,  twenty-three 
and  twenty-four,  and  is,  where  the  ground  has  not  been 
disturbed,  very  plainly  marked  by  a  deep  track  on  the 
prairie. 

The  surface  of  this  town  is  gently  undulating,  con- 
sisting of  prairies,  oak  openings,  and  marsh  or  mead- 
ow, well  watered  and  particularly  suited  to  grazing. 
The  inhabitants  are  chiefly  engaged  in  agriculture, 
the  soil  being  remarkably  fertile;  wheat,  oats,  corn, 
barley,  rye,  potatoes,  hay  and  tobacco  are  produced  in 
abundance.  In  live  stock  it  is  one  of  the  leading 
towns,  having  fine  breeds  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and 
hogs.  Pleasant  Springs  tinds  market  for  its  produce 
in  Madison,  Stoughton,  McFarland,  Edgerton,  Fort 
Atkinson,  Cambridge  and  Christiana,  nearly  all  of 
which  have  fine  milling  privileges.  The  town  has 
two  fine  churches,  and  six  school  houses,  one  of  which 
was  built  and  furnished,  with  apparatus  and  a  fine 
large  bell,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $1,900.  This  is  claimed 
to  be  the  best  country  school  house  in  the  state,  till 
"other  counties  are  heard  from." 

From  Liberty  Mound,  on  section  two  (which  is  the 
highest  point  of  land  in  the  county  except  Blue 
Mounds),  on  a  clear  day,  may  be  had  a  fine  view  of 
the  lakes,  Madison,  Blue  Mounds,  the  country  towards 
Sun  Prairie,  Stoughton,  Utica,  Fort  Atkinson  and 
Jefferson. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS PLEASANT    SPRINGS.       375 

A  peculiar  featnre  about  tlie  political  history  of  the 
town  is,  that  up  to  1853,  it  was  entirely  democratic 
in  its  elections,  but  from  that  date  up  to  the  present, 
it  has  cast  a  decided  republican  vote.  The  change  in 
political  views  was  so  very  sudden  and  almost  unex- 
pected that,  at  the  first  election  in  the  above  year, 
only  one  democratic  vote  was  cast. 

It  w^as  also  about  this  time,  says  Hon.  John  A. 
Johnson,  or  little  after,  that  Hon.  ¥m.  It.  Taylor, 
since  governor,  was  elected  to  the  state  senate  over 
Hon.  H.  H.  Giles.  Mr.  Giles  was  at  that  time  rail- 
road station  agent  at  Stoughton,  and  a  fierce  onslaught 
was  made  upon  him  during  the  campaign  by  the 
friends  of  Mr.  Taylor,  as  being  the  agent  and  repre- 
sentative of  a  great  monopoly,  while  Mr.  Taylor  was 
the  friend  per  se  of  the  abused  farmer.  The  demo- 
cratic stump  orators  showed  very  clearly  that  the  rail- 
road was  charging  12  cents  per  bushel  freight  on 
wheat  from  Stoughton  to  Milwaukee,  when  six  cents 
was  ample  compensation,  and  intimated  that  if  Taylor 
was  elected  monopoly  would  be  destroyed,  and  the 
price  of  wheat  would  be  raised  at  least  six  cents  per 
bushel.  This  was  a  pretty  strong  argument,  and  at 
last  one  Pleasant  Spring  farmer  determined  that  he 
would  vote  for  Taylor,  though  he  was  a  little  mixed 
as  to  the  position  he  was  to  be  elected  to,  as  his  knowl- 
edge of  English  was  not  the  most  profound.  The 
farmer  marketed  his  wheat  at  Stoughton,  and  he  had 
heard  Taylor's  name  coupled  with  the  six  cents  raise 
in  wheat.     When  he  heard  of  Taylor's  election  ho 


376       DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  PLEASANT    SPRINGS. 

joyfully  loaded  liis  wagon  with  wheat  and  wended 
his  way  to  Stoughton  to  realize  the  higher  price, 
supposing  he  would  find  Taylor  duly  installed  as 
station  agent,  the  position  which  he  with  his  vote 
had  helped  to  give  him.  Arriving  at  the  depot 
his  first  inquiry  was  as  to  the  price  of  wheat,  and 
finding  it  had  not  advanced  at  all,  demanded  an 
interview  with  Taylor.  When  informed  that  he 
had  been  basely  cheated  into  giving  a  democratic 
vote  and  for  such  a  reason,  his  feelings  may  be 
better  imagined  than  described.  He  wrent  home  su- 
premely disgusted  with  the  corruptions  and  dishon- 
esty of  the  country. 

On  the  farm  of  J.  I.  Williams,  bordering  on  Ke- 
gonsa,  or  First  Lake,  are  a  number  of  Indian  mounds. 
Through  the  courtesy  of  the  officials  of  the  Milwaukee 
&  St.  Paul  Railroad,  passengers  are  landed  or  taken 
on 'at  the  "Sugar  Bush,"  a  large  grove  on  Mr.  Wil- 
liams' farm.  The  use  of  this  grove  is  freely  given 
for  camp  meetings,  picnics,  hunting  parties,  etc.  The 
lake  abounds  in  fish,  while  the  woods  and  fields  are 
well  supplied  with  game.  The  final  outlet  of  the 
Four  Lakes,  the  Yahara,  has  its  source  at  the  eastern 
point  of  the  lake.  This  crosses  sections  twenty, 
twenty-eight,  twenty-nine,  thirty-two  and  thirty-three. 
Mr.  Williams  proposes  to  launch  a  beautiful  little 
steamer,  now  being  built  in  Pittsburg,  upon  the  lake 
the  present  season,  and  by  whose  courtesy  and  liber- 
ality we  are  enabled  to  present  to  our  readers,  an 
exquisite  engraving  of  this  elegant   steamer  as  she 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS PLEASANT    SPRINGS.       379 

will  appear  on  Lake  Kegonsa.  She  is  fifty-six  feet 
long,  four  feet  six  inches  deep  in  hull,  nine  feet 
broad,  with  a  lower  and  upper  deck,  and  is  propelled 
by  a  twenty  horse-power  engine.  She  is  designed  by 
him  as  a  pleasure  craft,  to  be  u&ed  for  personal  en- 
joyment, and  to  add  to  the  interes{  of  the  place  by 
using  it  for  pleasure  parties,  picnics,  etc.,  if  the  prop- 
er encouragement  is  given,  to  meet  expenses  of  run- 
ning it,  and  is  designed  to  be  the  beginning  of  an 
investment  which  will  convert  the  Sugar  Bush  Grove 
into  one  of  the  most  enjoyable,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
most  complete  places  of  rational  pleasure  in  the  state, 
believing  that  Madison  will  wake  up  to  a  sense  of 
''  Its  best  Holt"  and  stretch  its  arm  down  to  Ke- 
gonsa, so  that  while  Madison  may  be  the  head  source 
of  pleasure,  the  Sugar  Bush  Grove  with  its  peculiar 
charms  will  be  indispensable  to  her  pleasure-seekers. 
It  is  hoped  that  some  day  soon,  all  obstacles  to  a 
free  access  to  all  the  four  Lakes  will  be  removed,  and 
the  charms'  of  these  matchless  bodies  of  water  be 
more  fully  brought  forth  by  easy  intercourse  through 
Yahara's  inviting  current. 

The  present  town  officers  are  :  Supervisors,  Wil- 
liam Seamonson,  chairman,  Elias  Nichols,  Ole  Moe; 
clerk,  E.  T.  Cleven ;  assessor,  Lewis  Iverson;  treasurer, 
Gunder  Edwards;  justices  of  peace,  Oliver  Johnson, 
Ole  A.  Drotning. 


3S0  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BKISTOL. 


BRISTOL. 

BY  J.  R.  DAVIS,  Esq. 

The  town  of  Bristol  is  about  thirteen  miles  from 
Madison,  tlie  center  being  nearly  midway  between  Mad- 
ison and  Columbus.  It  lies  on  the  northern  boundary 
of  Dane  county,  which  is  separated  by  the  town  of 
Hampden  from  Columbia  county,  and  is  known  on 
the  government  survey  as  township  9  north,  of  range 
11  east.     It  was  formerly  a  part  of  Sun  Prairie. 

The  town  was  first  settled  by  David  Brazee,  and 
shortly  afterwards  by  P.  ~W.  Davison,  M.  Sweet, 
William  W.  Patrick,  and  William  II.  Clark.  The 
first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  George 
C.  Smith,  in  1848,  and  W.  W.  Patrick  was  elected  su- 
pervisor. 

The  early  history  of  the  town  does  not  abound  in  as 
many  incidents  and  occurrences  as  some  of  its  adjoin- 
ing towns,  having  no  place  of  public  note  or  resort,  in 
consequence  of  its  being  somewhat  oft' the  usual  beaten 
road,  and  thus  had  few  of  those  interesting  way  marks 
which  are  known  to  enliven  and  amuse  the  traveler  in 
those  early  days.  Still,  it  was  by  no  means  deserted, 
commercially  speaking,  for  one  of  the  main  traveled 
roads  went  through  the  southeast  part  —  being  the  old 
state  road  running  from  Beaver  Dam,  through  Colum- 
bus, to   Madison.     It  was  a  common  event  in  those 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS BRISTOL.  381 

days  to  see  the  red  man  roving  over  its  wild  and 
beautiful  prairies,  whose  trail  went  through  the  town 
leading  from  Horicon  lake,  the  head  waters  of  the 
Rock  river,  to  Madison  lakes.  The  surface  of  the 
land  presents  a  picturesque  landscape,  being  as  a  rule 
quite  level,  and  about  equally  divided  between  wood 
and  prairie.  But  like  too  many  other  towns  in  the 
county,  its  beautiful  forests  are  being  cut  down  too 
fast,  and  not  enough  of  other  trees  set  out  to  supply 
the  want  which  we  will  ultimately  be  compelled  to 
feel,  if  no  proper  provision  is  made  for  tree  planting. 
There  are  no  rivers  of  any  size  in  the  town,  although 
a  good  stream,  called  Waterloo  creek,  which  rises  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  town,  and  then  runs  south- 
easterly into  the  town  of  Medina,  gives  an  excellent 
water  power  throughout  most  of  the  year,  and  the  old 
stone  grist  mill,  formerly  built  by  Mr.  Aiken,  having 
been  divested  of  its  old  fashioned  water-wheel,  and  re- 
placed with  one  of  the  improved  style,  by  Mr.  Alex- 
ander Stevens,  its  present  owner,  is  doing  a  good, 
continuous  business  in  the  custom  line,  except  dur- 
ring  very  dry  periods,  when  the  old  mill  has  a  va- 
cation, and  the  humming  of  its  machinery  ceases 
until  nature  causes  the  streams  to  rise,  which  again 
furnishes  the  gratuitous  motive  power,  and  sends 
the  old  mill  to  work 

The  red  man  of  early  days,  who  traveled  his  foot 
beaten  trail  leading  through  the  southeastern  part 
of  the  town,  could  no  doubt  give  some  graphic  des- 
criptions of  a  lake   generally   known   as   "  Brazee's 


382  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS BRISTOL. 

Lake,"  where  he  employed  himself  in  trapping  and 
other  amusements.  But  in  this  enlightened  age  this 
same  lake  is  a  bone  of  contention,  so  to  speak,  and  a 
source  of  trouble  for  the  white  man,  out  of  which 
law  suits  have  arisen.  The  difficulty  arising  from 
it  is  somewhat  of  a  complicated  nature,  so  much  so, 
that  a  suit  to  determine  the  real  owners  of  it  has  been 
carried  from  one  court  to  the  other,  and  is  now  pend- 
ing in  the  U.  S.  court.  A  reference  to  the  facts, 
which  seems  to  be  as  follows,  will  not  be  out  of  place 
here. 

The  lake,  like  some  other  bodies  of  water  in  this  vi- 
cinity, has  year  by  year  been  gradually  drying  up, 
until  at  the  present  time  the  husbandman's  plow 
traverses  it  instead  of  the  Indian's  canoe,  and  wdiich 
covering  over  200  acres,  more  or  less,  persons  owning 
land  on  its  border,  very  naturally  supposed  that  their 
farms  were  getting  larger  in  proportion,  while  a  sec- 
ond party  comforted  themselves  by  supposing  that 
they  w^ere  the  lucky  ones,  and  had  bought  the  lake 
(now  a  fertile  piece  of  land)  from  the  government, 
having  entered  it  at  ten  shillings  per  acre. 

The  two  main  traveled  roads  are  what  are  known 
as  the  Columbus  and  the  Bristol  roads;  the  first, 
or  the  old  state  road,  runs  through  the  eastern  part 
of  the  town,  while  the  other  runs  almost  due  north 
and  south  from  the  north  end  of  the  town  through  to 
Sun  Prairie,  its  "  twin  sister,"  and  for  beautiful  land- 
scapes and  sightseeing,  as  well  as  the  fertility  of  the 
soil  and  number  of  improved  farms  and  farm  build- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  BRISTOL.  383 

ings  which  lie  on  either  side  of  this  road  and  others 
which  intersect  it,  is  hard  to  beat  in  the  county;  in 
fact,  there  is  no  waste  land  in  the  town,  and  the  time 
is  not  far  distant  when  Bristol  will  be  among  the 
foremost  in  wealth  and  population. 

Its  market  is  Sun  Prairie,  generally  speaking,  while 
many  draw  their  produce  at  times  to  Columbus. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  town  are  chiefly  Americans, 
Germans  and  Norwegians.  The  former  having  set- 
tled on  the  prairies  in  the  southern  half  of  the  town, 
and  the  Germans  in  the  timber  land  in  the  northeast 
part,  while  the  latter  occupy  the  northwest  portion, 
which  is  about  equally  divided  between  prairie  and 
wood  land. 

In  politics  the  town  is  about  equally  divided,  and, 
during  the  civil  war,  Bristol  sent  her  regular  number 
of  soldiers  to  defend  the  government,  some  of  whom 
never  returned  alive,  but  whose  names  will  ever 
be  held  in  deep  remembrance  by  our  citizens.  The 
town  has  been  represented  in  the  legislature  by  Hon. 
K.  AY.  Davison,  in  its  early  history,  and  by  Hon.  J. 
M.  Flint  in  later  years.  Messrs.  Hidden,  Chipman, 
Davison,  and  Haner  have  been  chosen  to  represent  the 
town  on  the  county  board  at  various  times. 

The  liquor  traffic  question  has  long  since  become  a 
mooted  one,  and  although  the  intelligent  voters  of  the 
town  have  decided  that  those  who  sell  liquor  must  pay 
a  high  license,  still  there  are  plenty  of  them  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  town  licensed  to  keep  saloons. 

The  town  is  well  dotted  with  school  houses,  and  ed- 


384  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BRISTOL. 

ucational  privileges  are  generally  good.  There  are  in 
the  town  two  churches.  The  M.  E.  church,  generally 
known  as  the  "Bristol  Church,"  is  located  on  the 
Bristol  road  about  2f  miles  from  Sun  Prairie,  and  is 
a  good  edifice,  containing  an  audience  room,  and  a 
basement  which  is  used  for  lectures,  donations,  etc. 
It  is  also  occupied  once  a  week  by  the  "Grangers," 
who  have  an  excellent  Grange  in  good  running  order. 
The  other,  a  Catholic  church,  and  one  of  the  finest 
edifices  in  the  county,  is  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
town,  known  as  the  "Settlement."  The  town  cannot 
boast  of  a  "Town  House,"  though  repeated  attempts 
have  been  made  at  "Town  Meeting's"  in  that  direc- 
tion,  but  thus  far  they  have  not  yet  been  successful. 

There  are  in  the  town  two  stores,  the  largest  of 
which  is  owned  by  John  Arians,  who  also  keeps  the 
post  office.  The  town  was  formerly  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal wheat  growing  sections  in  the  county,  but  of 
late  years  the  people  are  turning  more  attention  to 
raising  of  stock  and  to  dairy  pursuits.  There  are  two 
cheese  factories  that  are  producing  an  excellent  qual- 
ity of  cheese,  and  well  patronized.  One  is  owned  by 
Mr.  Chipman,  who  keeps  a  large  dairy  himself,  about 
a  mile  from  Sun  Prairie,  on  the  Bristol  road;  the 
other  is  owned  by  Mr.  John  Arians,  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  town,  and  who  is,  as  mentioned  above, 
also  proprietor  of  the  store.  There  are  in  the  town 
several  blacksmith  and  wagon  shops. 

The  town  ranks  in  wealth  and  general  industry  with 
any  in  the  county,  although  in  common  with  other 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BRISTOL.  385 

places  that  have  made  wheat  raising  a  staple  produc- 
tion, it  has  felt  the  hard  times  and  the  effects  of  the 
"chinch  bu«;s."  But  the  fact  that  farmers  are  now 
more  scrupulous  in  preserving  the  prairie  chickens 
and  other  birds  that  have  been  wontonly  killed  off, 
and  also  raising  more  hay  than  wheat,  will,  in  a 
great  measure  outflank  this  terrible  pest.  The  farm- 
ers of  Bristol  are  fully  aware  that  they  are  the  owners 
of  their  lands,  and  must  use  diligence  and  care  to  pre- 
serve their  crops  from  injuries,  and  as  a  means  toward 
carrying  out  these  facts,  prohibit  the  trespass  on  their 
lands  for  the  hunting  of  prairie  chicken,  which  they 
deem  their  friend,  and  the  enemy  of  thousands  of  in- 
sects that  prey  upon  their  crops.  A  very  exhilarating 
sport  in  the  way  of  hunting,  and  one  which  would 
meet  with  a  hearty  response  from  the  farmers,  can  be 
had  by  hunters  coming  in  the  winter  and  ridding  the 
town  of  the  wolves  (which  are  numerous  in  this 
and  adjoining  towns  since  the  "Peshtigo  fire"),  that 
kill  the  sheep  in  large  numbers. 

The  town,  like  all  others,  has  had  its  share  of  law 
suits,  and  we  will  relate  an  incident  or  two.  A  num- 
ber of  years  ago,  one  of  the  former  town  treasurers 
deposited  the  town  moneys  in  a  Madison  bank,  which 
failed,  and  the  town  supposed  by  some  to  have  lost  it, 
while  others  thought  the  treasurer  responsible  for  the 
whole  amount.  During  the  unsettled  condition  of 
the  issue  between  the  town  and  the  treasurer,  a  bill 
was  introduced  into  the  legislature  for  his  release,  and 
which  passed,  and  left  the  town  to  whistle  for  the 
25 


886  DANE     COUNTY    TOWNS BRISTOL. 

money.     The  town  board  were  thus  authorized  to  free 
him  from  his  bonds  and  indebtedness. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  town  is  known  to 
have  good,  smooth  level  roads,  and  bridges,  still,  not 
long  since  a  $5,000  suit  was  commenced  in  court  by 
a  party  who  complained  to  the  supervisors  of  the  shaky 
condition  of  one  of  the  town  bridges,  and  had  re- 
ceived injuries  to  his  horse  and  vehicle  therefrom, 
so  brought  suit  accordingly.  But  it  puzzled  both  the 
supervisors  and  the  complainant  to  find  out  a  few 
days  afterwards  where  the  dangerous  place  was.  They 
had  driven  across  into  a  neighboring  town  before  they 
discovered  the  offending  bridge,  and  then  only  after 
having  been  shown  it  by  an  individual  who  claimed  he 
thought  he  saw  the  accident.  The  joke  was  thought 
too  good  for  both  the  town  and  complainant,  except 
the  unnecessary  legal  expense  the  town  was  put  to. 

Bristol  without  doubt  has  some  of  the  best  kept 
roads  in  any  town,  being  in  a  great  number  of  places 
shaded  on  both  sides  of  the  highways  by  beautiful 
trees.  Thrift  and  energy  are  visible  among  its  citizens 
as  is  witnessed  by  their  comfortable  homes,  and  the 
hiffh  class  of  intelligence.  Let  the  business  man  and 
visitor  see  the  town  of  Bristol  before  they  pass  judg- 
ment on  Dane  county,  and  they  will  be  pleased  with 
its  rich  soil,  beauty  of  landscapes  and  general  appear- 
ance. From  its  elevated  plain  can  be  seen  the  Capitol 
of  the  state,  and  on  a  clear  day  the  far  off  "  Blue 
Mounds  "  in  the  distance. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS RUTLAND.  387 


RUTLAND. 

BY  S.  W.  GRAVES,  ESQ. 

Tins  township  lies  on  the   southern  boundary  line 
of  the  county,  which  separates  it  from  Union  in  Rock 
county.     It  is  about  fourteen  miles  southeast  of  Mad 
ison,  and  is  known   as  township  5  north,  of  range  10 
east. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  commenced  in  the 
summer  of  1842,  by  three  families,  Joseph  Dejean 
and  family,  John  Prentis  and  his  father  and  Dan 
Pond.  They  settled  in  one  corner  of  the  town  on  the 
old  Janesville  and  Madison  road.  The  next  year  two 
other  young  men  came  in  and  took  up  claims  in  the 
same  neighborhood.  There  was  no  settlement  made 
in  any  other  part  of  the  town  until  1814,  when  Squire 
Jonathan  Lawrence  and  son,  and  myself  and  family 
came  from  Vermont,  on  the  fifth  day  of  July,  and  went 
back  into  the  woods,  as  it  was  termed  then.  We  took 
up  a  section  of  land  and  commenced  a  settlement  by 
clearing,  breaking  and  building  our  cabins  ready  for 
winter.  During  the  fall  four  other  cabins  were  built, 
of  which  two  in  the  northern  part  of  town,  were  for 
Jeremiah  Douglass  and  Goodrich  Cummings,  and 
one  adjoining  me  for  Gideon  Cummings,  while  Rich- 
ard Priest,  who  came  late  in  the  fall,  settled  at  a  large 
spring  in  the  center  of  the  town.     He  came  from  In- 


3S8  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS RUTLAND. 

diana,  and  had  eleven  children,  most  of  whom  were 
grown  to  men  and  women. 

In  early  spring  of  1845,  there  came  in  a  large  num- 
ber of  people  from  Vermont  and  settled  in  the  south 
part  of  the  town,  which  took  the  name  of  the  Vermont 
settlement,  while  in  the  northern  part  there  came 
in  quite  a  number  from  Maine,  among  whom  were 
the  Douglasses,  Dammons,  and  Caslies,  and  a  few  from 
New  Turk  and  Ohio,  and  settled  there,  and  it  wras 
known  as  the  Maine  settlement. 

It  was  estimated  that  there  were  about  400  inhabit- 
ants in  the  town  in  1845.  We  had  the  advantage 
over  many  other  towns  in  the  first  settlement,  as  there 
were  no  speculators'  lands  that  could  be  held  in  re- 
serve for  the  rise  in  value.  The  town  had  not  those 
peculiar  attractions  for  them  which  other  towns  pos- 
sessed, with  their  large  prairies  and  groves  of  tim- 
ber, as  the  entire  town  was  almost  all  burr  oak-open- 
ings, with  considerable  marsh  and  a  small  part  prairie 
in  the  north.  The  lands  belonged  to  the  general  gov- 
ernment, and  were  open  for  entry  at  any  time,  but 
most  of  the  settlers  that  came  here  were  poor  and  not 
able  to  enter  these  lands;  some  could  enter  a  40  acres 
and  some  an  80  acres,  and  so  we  organized  claim  soci- 
eties to  protect  one  another  in  the  settlement  of  our 
homes.  I  must  relate  to  you  some  incidents  that  oc- 
curred in  1845-6,  which  will  illustrate  the  method  we 
had  of  protecting  each  other.  Our  societies  were  thor- 
oughly organized  by  officers.  If  any  one  attempted 
to  enter  any  land  that  wras  already  claimed  by  a  settler, 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS RUTLAND.  389 

lie  was  immediately  notified  to  appear  before  the  exe- 
cutive board  to  give  a  reason  why  he  entered  the  land; 
if  he  persisted,  he  was  immediately  notified  to  settle 
satisfactorily  with  the  claimant,  and  if  not,  to  leave 
town  immediately.  There  were  a  few  cases  where 
they  would  not  settle,  and  if  they  attempted  to  build 
their  cabins,  the  people  would  meet  in  mass  and  tear 
down  the  same. 

In  the  winter  of  1846,  the  legislature  passed  a  law 
giving  the  people  the  right  to  organize  into  towns  in 
Dane  county.  The  people  of  our  town  met  soon  after 
the  passage  of  the  law,  and  organized  themselves  into  a 
town,  and  called  it  Eutland  after  the  name  of  a  town 
in  Yermont.  On  the  first  Tuesday  in  April,  18-tfi, 
we  held  our  first  election,-  and  elected  as  Supervis- 
ors—  Jonathan  Lawrence,  chairman,  David  West 
and  Henry  Edmonds;  Town  Clerk  —  S.  W.  Graves; 
Road  Commissioners  —  David  Tipple,  S.  W.  Graves 
and  Goodrich  Cummings. 

Since  the  settlement  of  our  town,  we  have  progressed 
slowly  but  steadily  in  agricultural  pursuits,  being  all 
farmers.  There  are  no  large  streams  or  villages,  no 
manufactories,  but  a  few  mechanics.  Our  soil  is 
good  and  well  adapted  for  farming  purposes;  and  as 
a  farming  community,  we  are  very  well  located  as  to 
markets.  There  are  no  railroads  in  town,  but  we  have 
the  advantage  of  two,  viz.:  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee 
and  Saint  Paul,  which  runs  along  near  the  east 
line  of  the  town,  and  very  convenient  for  the  people 
on  the  east  side  of  the  town  to  get  their  produce  to 


390  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS RUTLAND. 

market,  while  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  road  just 
enters  one  corner  of  the  town  and  runs  along  near  the 
west  line,  which  gives  us  a  good  market  with  Chicago. 
Our  market  towns  are  Stoughton  and  Edgerton  on 
the  east,  Oregon,  Brooklyn  and  Evansville  on  the  west. 

Since  we  have  changed  our  mode  of  farming  (less 
wheat  for  chinch  bugs  to  devour),  and  gone  to  raising 
clover,  neat  stock,  wool  and  pork,  butter  and  cheese, 
we  have  done  much  better,  getting  rich  slowly. 

We  have  three  churches,  the  Free-Will  Baptist  at 
the  north  part  of  the  town,  with  a  good  meeting  house; 
the  United  Brethren  church  at  a  little  village  on  the 
west,  with  a  small  meeting  house;  and  a  Methodist 
church,  with  a  good  house  of  worship  in  the  village 
of  Brooklyn,  in  the  township  of  Rutland,  the  village 
being  on  the  line  of  two  towns.  There  is  quite  a 
church  of  regular  Baptists  in  town,  but  they  unite 
with  the  church  in  Union,  and  have  a  good  house 
of  worship  there. 

Our  town  is  organized  into  eight  school  districts 
and  some  joint  districts,  with  very  good  school  houses, 
and  all  maintain  schools  from  six  to  eight  months  in 
the  year. 

We  have  but  few  natural  curiosities,  and  they  are 
some  that  used  to  attract  our  attention  in  an  early 
day.  A  small  river  rises  in  the  northwest  corner  of 
our  town  and  runs  southeast,  and  leaves  the  town  at 
the  southeast  corner,  and  along  this  river  there  are  a 
great  number  of  springs;  there  is  one  spring  so  large 
that  it  runs  a  grist-mill  within   ten  rods  of  its  head 


DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS RUTLAND.        391 

with  two  runs  of  stone.  There  is  one  mound  spring 
twenty-four  feet  in  diameter,  and  so  deep  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  find  bottom.  I  have  sounded  it  twenty  feet 
and  found  none.  There  is  a  lake,  known  as  Island 
Lake,  which  in  early  times  was  considered  a  curiosi- 
ty. It  has'  an  island  near  the  center,  of  about  three 
acres,  which  was  once  thickly  wooded  with  good  rock 
maple  trees,  with  no  others  within  twenty  miles.  They 
were  so  fine,  and  all  claimed  them,  that  it  led  to  a 
series  of  troubles,  which  left  no  other  alternative, 
in  order  to  settle  the  matter,  but  to  go  on  the  island 
and  cut  them  down.  Our  stone  quarries,  of  which 
we  have  quite  a  number,  are  full  of  interest  to  the 
geologist  in  hunting  out  the  fossil  remains. 

The  health  of  our  town,  from  its  first  settlement  un- 
til the  present,  has  ever  been  good,  which  is  owing  to 
the  numerous  springs  of  pure  water  and  the  elevation 
of  the  land,  which  is  ever  receiving  pure  air  from  the 
surrounding  hills,  and  no  sunken  places  to  engender 
diseases. 

There  are  no  Indian  relics,  no  camps,  trails,  graves 
or  mounds.  When  I  first  came  into  town  the  Indians 
were  very  numerous.  They  would  often  pitch  their 
tents  near  some  spring,  and  hunt  deer  for  weeks  and 
then  move  off. 

In  speaking  of  our  town  politically,  perhaps  this  is 
a  delicate  subject,  but  I  will  give  you  a  little  some- 
thing that  has  taken  place  in  the  political  arena  in  the 
settlement  of  our  town.  In  the  south  part,  in  the 
Yermont  settlement,  the  Ohio   people   and   part   of 


392  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS RUTLAND. 

the  New  York  people  were  whigs.  The  Maine  peo- 
ple in  the  north  part  of  the  town  were  democrats,  but 
the  whigs  had  a  majority.  We  used  to  have  some 
warm  times  in  the  first  settlement,  but  in  the  organi- 
zation of  the  republican  party  in  1S55,  all  of  the  Ver- 
mont settlement,  all  of  the  Ohio,  and  most  of  the  New 
York  people  joined  the  republican  party,  but  the  peo- 
ple of  Maine,  to  a  man,  held  to  their  old  party,  and 
some  of  the  old  people  were  so  disaffected  that 
they  left  the  town.  Since  the  organization  we  have 
remained  very  strong  republican,  keeping  a  very 
even  tenure;  no  ups  and  downs;  there  being  two  hun- 
dred republicans  to  twenty  or  thirty  democrats.  It 
lias  ever  been  termed  the  banner  town  of  the  county. 
Most  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town  are  not  here 
now;  many  have  died,  others  have  left.  All  of  the 
Maine  people  except  one  have  left  town.  The  present 
inhabitants  are  a  majority  American  people,  some 
Welch,  some  Scotch,  a  few  English,  and  quite  a  set- 
tlement of  Danes. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE.  303 


BURKE. 

BY  JOHN  DOUGLAS. 

This  town  is  known  as  township  8  north,  of  range 
10  east,  and  is  equally  divided  into  oak  openings  and 
prairie,  with  a  marsh  in  the  westerly  part.  Two 
branches  of  Token  Creek  enter  the  town.  The  east- 
ern branch  on  section  3,  and  the  western  on  section  6. 
then  unite  on  section  7,  run  thence  through  the  town 
of  Westport  into  Fourth  lake,  being  the  largest  stream 
that  flows  into  the  lake.  The  town  received  its  name 
after  the  Right  Hon.  Edmund  Burke,  one  of  Ireland's 
illustrious  orators  and  poets. 

In  1847,  it  was  made  as  one  of  the  four  towns  of 
Windsor;  the  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Horace  Lawrence,  Charles  M.  Nichols 
being  elected  chairman,  and  Ira  Mead,  clerk,.  In 
1852,  it  was  organized  as  a  separate  town,  and  its 
first  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Adam  Smith,  when 
he  was  elected  chairman,  and  John  Douglas,  clerk. 

The  Indian  trail  from  Koshkonong  and  Third 
lakes,  to  Fort  Winnebago  (now  Portage  City),  passed 
through  the  town,  near  the  Indian  Spring,  on  section 
26.  It  was  a  well  beaten  track,  and  is  still  seen, 
where  cultivation  has  not  obliterated  its  traces,  and 
on  which  the  early  settlers  frequently  saw  as  many  as 
five  hundred  to  one  thousand  Indians,with  their  wives 
and  little  ones,  pass  and  repass  in  a  week. 


394  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS BUKKE. 

On  section  10,  in  Mr.  McMarran's  field,  there  are 
two  ancient  circular  mounds,  and  on  II.  P.  Hall's 
lands,  section  2b,  there  is  a  mound  in  the  form  of  a 
cross,  while  on  section  30,  on  the  farm  of  Henry 
Satchjen,  there  is  a  large  oblong  mound,  running  in 
a  northwest  and  southeast  direction,  which  was  prob- 
ably used  at  one  time  as  a  fort.  These  are  all  losing 
their  identity  by  frequent  cultivation  of  the  soil. 

Horace  and  William  Lawrence  came  herefrom  Ver- 
mont, in  1837,  and  built  the  first  house  in  the  town, 
on  section  11,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Washing- 
ton Woodward.  Lawrence  lived  here  in  the  year  183S, 
and  had  a  well  known  fame  as  a  remarkably  good 
hunter.  In  the  winter  he  has  been  known  to  kill  a 
score  of  deer,  besides  a  great  variety  of  other  game. 
He  is  still  noted  among  hunters  as  a  good  shot. 
Horace  kept  "bach"  for  some  little  time,  but  after- 
wards started  a  hotel,  which  for  a  number  of  years 
was  known  as  the  "  Prairie  House."  When  he  raise! 
his  first  barn  it  is  said  that  nearly  every  white  man  in 
Dane,  and  some  from  Columbia  county  were  present. 
The  barn  was  afterwards  destroyed  by  lightning. 

The  road  to  Fort  Winnebago  lay  near  the  Prairie 
House,  and  many  notables,  even  in  early  times  had 
occasion  to  pass  and  repass  through  the  town.  Before 
the  Mexican  war,  Gen.  Scott  (then  only  a  colonel), 
together  with  Jefferson  Davis  and  Zach.  Taylor,  being 
appointed  by  the  United  States  government  as  in- 
spectors of  the  military  forts  in  the  west,  put  up  at 
the  Prairie  House,  where  they  were  entertained  with 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BUEKE.  395 

tlie  common  fare  of  deer,  prairie  liens  and  pork.  Gen. 
Scott  was  the  marked  man  among  the  others,  not  only 
for  his  tall  and  manly  bearing,  but  also  for  the  pre- 
cise care  he  had  of  his  person,  performing  his  ablu- 
tions regularly  and  systematically.  It  is  reported 
that  they  held  a  council  with  the  Indians  here. 

The  Indians  were  quite  numerous  in  those  early 
times,  and  were  always  peculiarly  desirous  of  obtain- 
ing a  little  fire  water,  a  privilege  they  then  possessed, 
and  which  extended  as  well  to  some  of  the  whites  — 
indeed.,  the  whites  were  known  to  be  particularly 
fond  of  "  Pecatonica "  and  "  Rock  River,"  pet 
names  given  for  several  kinds  of  whisky,  and  of  a 
very  poor  quality  at  that.  The  Indians  traded  back 
and  forward  in  the  town  for  a  number  of  years  until 
targe  game  became  scarce,  when  their  visits  were  not 
as  frequent. 

When  Alex.  Botkin  settled  on  sections  27  and  28  (the 
'76  farm),  the  Indians  always  camped  near  his  house, 
and  in  his  dealings  with  them  he  at  first  had  some 
trouble,  in  consequence  of  their  innate  thieving  pro- 
pensities and  greed,  but  afterwards  he  became  a 
person  of  considerable  importance  among  them,  so 
that  on  one  occasion,  when  they  had  come  in  larg- 
er numbers  than  usual,  he  (in  order  that  a  proper 
understanding  might  exist  between  them  and  him- 
self)  assembled  a  council  of  all  the  chiefs  in  his 
house.  Sitting  down  on  the  floor  in  a  circle, 
while  he  stood  in  the  center,  he  explained  to  them 
that  they  might  camp  near  his  house  if  they  wished, 


396  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE. 

but  must  not  steal  liis  corn  or  hay;  in  fact  (as  lie 
well  knew  the  Indian  character  as  being;  unsafe  to 
give  a  gift  without  some  equivalent)  he  would  give 
them  nothing;  but  if  they  had  venison  or  anything 
to  sell,  he  would  willingly  purchase  the  same.  The 
council  agreed  to  his  request,  and  he  had  no  trouble 
with  them  afterwards. 

The  mail  was  carried  from  Madison  to  Fort  Win- 
nebago, through  this  town,  crossing  the  Creek  a  mile 
above  the  village  on  the  old  Indian  trail,  in  the  town 
of  Windsor.  There  was  no  wag-on  road  leading  to 
the  fort  at  that  time,  and  business  required  to  be  done 
there  had  to  be  reached  by  passing  across  the  creek 
at  the  old  Indian  trail.  The  only  two  houses  on  the 
road  were  the  Lawrences',  afterward  called  the  "  Pra 
irie  House,"  and  Wallis  Rowan's,  near  Poynette. 

Chas.  S.  Peaslee,  now  living  in  Sun  Prairie  village, 
was  an  early  settler  on  what  is  now  known  as  Robert 
Ogilvie  and  A.  C.  Cummings'  farm,  on  sees.  27  and 
28.  The  frequent  changes  occurring  among  the 
settlers  makes  it  difficult  to  trace  up  all  occupants  of 
this  lovely  spot;  but  soon  after  we  find  Alexander 
C.  Botkin,  Esq.,  lived  here,  near  the  beautiful  rise  of 
ground  close  to  the  road,  that  is  now  so  tastefully  sur- 
rounded  with  evergreens  and  other  trees.  He  put  up 
a  sign,  with  the  two  large  figures,  '76,  on  it,  in  honor 
of  the  year  in  which  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  made  (1776),  a  term  by  which  the  farm  is  known 
even  up  to  the  present  time,  although  it  is  also  known 
as  the   "  Courtney   Place,"  because  an   English   sea 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE.  397 

captain  of  that  name  bought  it,  and  there  built  a 
stone  castle.  It  was  struck  by  lightning  and  burned 
when  the  Hon.  II.  B.  Sanderson  owned  and  occupied 
it  in  1870.  It  has  not  been  rebuilt  since,  the  walls 
still  continuing  to  stand  like  some  ancient  ruins  of 
feudal  times.  One  of  the  former  owners  of  the  place, 
D.  J.  Powers,  set  out  the  poplar  trees  on  the  south- 
east side  of  the  road,  while  Mr.  Courtney  planted 
those  on  the  northwest  side.  J.  C.  Plumb,  the  cele- 
brated nurseryman,  now  of  Milton,  Pock  county,  at 
one  time  leased  this  place,  and  many  of  the  evergreens 
and  fruit  trees  are  of  his  planting.  He  was  well 
known  for  a  new  variety  of  plum  he  raised.  But 
the  best  were  those  in  the  house,  and  as  good  things 
are  often  moving,  so  they  were  transplanted  to  another 
place. 

There  was  also  a  sign  board  placed  on  the  hill  beyond 
this  farm,  at  the  forks  of  the  Portage  and  Columbus 
roads,  but  it  is  reported  that  there  were  rival  taverns 
on  each  of  these  roads,  and  the  sign  board  was  fre- 
quently cut  down  by  the  landlords  of  these  respective 
taverns,  in  the  hope  that  travelers  getting  the  wrong 
road,  might  patronize  the  house  of  the  depredator. 

Prairie  fires  were  the  dread  of  early  settlers,  and 
were  sometimes  caused  by  the  Indians  setting  fire  to 
the  long  grass  for  the  purpose  of  driving  the  deer. 
These  fires  burned  with  intense  heat,  and  traveled  with 
great  rapidity,  making  extraordinary  leaps  across 
creeks  or  any  barriers  that  the  settlers  might  have 
prepared  to  impede  their  progress  and  prevent  the 


398  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  BURKE. 

burning  of  their  fields  of  grain  or  stacks  of  hay. 
Many  a  time,  when  the  husband  would  be  absent  on 
business  or  at  the  market,  have  the  wife  and  children 
been  compelled  to  spend  the  whole  night  righting 
these  fires  from  their  homes,  and  when  accomplished, 
would  fall  exhausted  and  powerless  at  the  last  place 
they  extinguished  the  flames. 

The  late  Alexander  Botkin  used  to  relate  an  inci- 
dent of  a  semi-comic  character,  that  we  must  try  to 
repeat  here.  To  be  able  to  whip  the  prairie  fires,  re- 
quired a  great  deal  of  skill  and  tact,  so  that  the  ope- 
rator would  put  out  the  fire  without  scattering  it  or 
allowing  any  sparks  to  attach  themselves  to  the  hazel 
brush  used  as  a  whip,  and  thus  avoid  throwing  fire 
backward  when  swinging  the  brush.  A  live  Yankee 
from  Vermont  (visiting  a  neighbor  of  Mr.  Botkin's), 
and  who  exhibited  no  capacity  for  knowing  less  than 
his  western  friends,  whom,  in  fact,  he  rather  con- 
ceived to  be  behind  the  times,  and  so  was  able 
to  show  them  a  little,  started  out  one  day  to  burn  the 
grass  round  some  stacks  of  hay,  that  had  been  put 
up  in  a  meadow  close  by,  just  as  Mr.  Botkin  stood  on 
a  knoll  among  some  buckwheat.  Looking  for  a  mo- 
ment toward  the  man  to  see  what  his  object  was,  he  saw 
him  deliberately  strike  a  match  and  light  the  grass 
on  the  windward  side,  then,  with  his  hazel  brush, 
commence  whipping  the  flames.  lie  had  not  pro- 
ceeded far  before  he  found  that  it  required  consider- 
able alacrity  to  be  able  to  control  the  fire,  and,  as 
with  Yankee  energy,  he  strove  to  subdue  the  flames, 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  BURKE.  309 

it  was  but  faint  as  compared  with  the  consternation 
that  afterwards  seized  him,  when  he  felt  an  intense 
warmth  on  his  back  and  turned  to  see  the  cause.  lie 
had  whipped  the  fire  into  the  stacks,  and  they  were 
in  a  blaze.  It  was  but  a  moment  more  and  he  was 
next  seen  rushing  at  a  frantic  speed  across  the  prai- 
rie, seeming  to  imagine  that  every  step  he  took,  was 
but  one  ahead  of  the  devouring  flames,  while  Mr.  Bot- 
kin  stood,  the  lone,  but  convulsed  spectator  of  what  he 
thought  was  Yankee  confidence  with  a  great  deal  of 
energy. 

Men  in  those  times  seemed  to  be  able  to  endure  a 
greater  amount  of  fatigue  than  they  can  at  the  present 
time.  To  travel  on  foot  between  here  and  Milwaukee 
was  a  very  frequent  occurrence,  and  was  accomplished 
in  about  twenty-four  hours.  Mr.  Botkin  had  at  one 
time  twelve  acres  of  heavy  oats  to  cut,  and  engaged 
four  men  to  cut  them.  Two  of  them  were  men  of  about 
six  feet  hight,  while  the  others  were  ordinary  size. 
The  tallest  men  cradled  the  oats,  while  the  others 
bound  them.  Starting  about  seven  in  the  morning, 
in  the  evening  at  sun  down,  the  oats  were  all  cut  and 
bound.  They  cut  very  large  swarths,  and  the  binders 
kept  up  with  each  cut  of  the  cradle. 

Wolves  were  the  scavengers  of  the  prairie,  and 
were  also  great  pests  around  the  farm.  When  any 
cattle  died,  they  were  removed  to  a  convenient  place 
away  from  the  house,  when  in  the  evening,  and  often 
shortly  after  the  carcass  was  left,  the  wolves  would  as- 
semble in  packs,  and  the  night  be  made,  with  their 


400  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  BUKKE. 

snarling  bowlings,  the  impersonation  of  the  infernal 
regions. 

About  1841,  Abel  Rasdall  and  Adam  Smith  settled 
on  section  14,  on  land  now  owned  by  Mr.  Ilepker. 
They  built  a  log  cabin  and  broke  up  some  of  the  land, 
but  shortly  after,  Mr.  Smith  concluded  to  build  a 
hotel,  which  he  conducted  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
which  was  known,  far  and  near,  as  "  Smith's  tav- 
ern." The  building  is  still  standing,  and  many 
pleasant  and  pleasing  associations  are  connected  with 
this  home  and  household.  He  kept  the  first  post- 
office  in  town,  and  has  held  that  office  for  a  number 
of  years,  as  well  as  others  of  trust  and  honor.  Syl- 
vester Dunlap  kept  a  store  here  for  some  years, 
and  built  up  an  excellent  business.  In  1848,  one 
of  the  first  school  houses  in  town  was  built  on  the 
present  site  of  Mr.  Smith's  elegant  brick  residence, 
but  the  school  having  been  located  in  a  more  suitable 
place  the  old  building  was  moved  back,  and  is  used 
by  him  as  a  granary.  The  new  school  house  is 
located  on  a  triangular  piece  of  land,  surrounded  by 
some  burr  oaks,  with  the  public  highways  on  three 
sides  of  it. 

Simjjlicity  of  life  was  always  a  marked  feature 
among  the  early  pioneers,  and  not  less  so  was  the  im- 
plicit confidence  they  extended  to  each  other  and  to 
entire  strangers,  as  the  following  incident  will  show. 
When  William  Yroman,  now  of  Madison,  left  New 
York  to  come  to  Madison,  he  came  by  way  of  Mil- 
waukee.     After  waiting  for  some  days,  and  finding 


DANE   COUNTY    TOWNS  —  BURKE.  401 

that  lie  could  not  get  through  by  stage,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  roads  being  in  a  bad  condition  from 
recent  rains,  he  resolved  to  walk  the  distance  on  foot. 
After  meeting  with  considerable  difficulties  (passing 
over  the  newly-formed  causeway  in  the  town  of  Deer- 
field,  knee-deep  in  water),  he  came  near  the  town  of 
Burke,  where  he  met  a  young  man  on  horseback,  who 
inquired  of  him  if  he  was  going  to  Madison,  and 
if  he  was  acquainted  there.  Answering  in  the 
affirmative,  that  he  had  a  brother  there,  the  young 
man  looking  at  him  a  moment,  and  at  the  same  time 
dismounting  from  his  horse,  told  Mr.  Vroman  that  he 
knew  his  brother,  and  as  he  seemed  tired,  he  must 
ride  to  Madison  ;  then  directing  him  where  to 
stable  the  horse,  that  he  might  find  it  conveniently 
when  he  again  returned,  left  him  in  possession  of 
the  animal,  he  being  then  on  his  way  to  Watertown. 
The  young  man  was  then  unknown  to  Mr.  Vroman,  but 
he  afterward  found  him  to  be  the  Hon.  Adam  Smith, 
whose  confidence  in  him,  a  stranger,  was  an  astonish- 
ing phase  of  western  life  that  he  had  never  ex- 
perienced before,  nor  had  even  any  conception  of. 
The  simple  fact  that  Mr.  Smith  knew  his  brother, 
George  Vroman,  was  the  measurement  by  which  he 
judged  the  new  acquaintance  by  the  old. 

Rough  exteriors  often  cover  warm  hearts,  and  we 
are  not  guilty  of  flattery  when  we  relate  another 
incident  just  as  pleasing.  A  poor  German,  near 
Mr.  Smith's,  had  lost  his  horse  just  at  the  very 
busiest  season  of  seeding,  and  the  man  being  unable 
26 


402  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  BURKE. 

to  purchase  or  hire  another,  was  in  the  awkward  pre- 
dicament of  failing  to  get  his  seed  in  the  ground. 
Adam  Smith,  hearing  of  the  circumstance,  rode  over 
to  the  man's  house,  and,  ascertaining  the  facts  of  the 
case  to  be  so,  told  him  he  might  come  over  to  his 
barn  and  get  one  of  his  horses,  which  he  could  use 
until  he  had  completed  his  seeding.  This  act  at 
ordinary  times  might  not  have  been  deemed  of  much 
importance,  but  all  farmers  know  the  preciousness  of 
such  generosity,  at  a  time  when  days  are  as  months 
to  them. 

In  early  times  the  roads  across  the  prairies  were 
numerous,  and  often  crossed  each  other  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  be  perplexing  to  those  unacquainted  with 
the  different  tracks,  who  were  liable  to  lose  their 
way  if  not  fortunate  in  striking  the  right  one.  On 
these  roads  emigrants'  ffoods  and  lead  from  the  mines 
at  Blue  Mounds  were  hauled  by  ox  teams  and  covered 
wagons,  popularly  known  as  "  prairie  schooners." 
The  teamsters  and  occupants,  when  they  halted  for 
the  day,  would  usually  select  some  suitable  place  that 
was  known  to  provide  shelter  for  themselves  and 
grass  for  their  animals.  On  the  farm  of  II.  P.  Hall, 
section  28,  there  is  a  large  burr  oak  that  was  a  com- 
mon resort,  and  was  well  known  among  the  pioneers 
and  immigrants  as  the  "  Traveler's  Home."  The 
tree  is  about  ten  feet  in  circumference  toward  the 
base,  and  about  seven  feet  from  the  ground  there  are 
five  branches  that  spread  out  from  the  trunk  nearly 
forty  feet.     It  occupies  as  much  ground  in  Mr.  Hall's 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE.  403 

orchard  as  ten  apple  trees  would,  and  stands  in  full 
view  of  the  road,  strong  and  vigorous,  spreading  over 
the  ground  like  a  great  mammoth  tent.  Many  a  weary 
traveler  has  eaten  his  frugal  meal  under  its  sheltering 
branches,  and  it  was  a  frequent  occurrence  to  see  as 
many  as  a  dozen  of  the  "  prairie  schooners  "  either  at 
anchor  or  sailing  in  sight  of  this  noble  oak,  where 
hotel  charges  were  as  free  as  the  air  of  the  wide 
spread  prairie,  accommodations  being  plenty  and  grass 
and  water  near  at  hand. 

Alexander  Lamere,  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  was  an 
early  settler.  He  owned  a  farm  on  section  10,  which 
he  sold  to  Mr.  McMurran  and  Martin  Lewis.  He 
was  at  one  time  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  Hud- 
son Bay  Company,  and  when  residing  here,  usually 
occupied  himself  hunting  and  trapping.  He  was  well 
known  from  the  peculiarity  of  his  costume,  which 
was  a  suit  of  buckskin,  with  a  little  hatchet  belted 
on  behind  him.  He  married  a  squaw,  and  removed 
with  her  when  her  tribe  went  west,  by  order  of  the 
United  States  Government. 

Martin  Lewis,  who  settled  on  section  one,  built  his 
house  on  the  edge  of  the  prairie,  which  was  a  visible 
land  mark  for  some  distance  round,  and  especially 
serviceable  as  a  lighthouse  in  the  night  for  travelers 
crossing  the  prairie,  who  took  the  lights  in  his  win- 
dows to  enable  them  to  take  their  bearings. 

In  1841,  G.  A.  Spaulding,  from  Vermont,  settled 
on  section  3,  on  the  old  Indian  camping  ground  near 
Token  Creek.     He  built  part  of  the  house  now  occu- 


40 J:  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS — BURKE. 

pied  by  G.  W.  Loomis.  lie  kept  a  hotel  there  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  by  the  aid  of  his  worthy  wife 
and  estimable  daughters,  it  was  a  favorite  resort  in  its 
day.  The  bridge  across  the  creek  was  built  near  the 
house,  about  two  years  afterwards,  18-43.  lie  also 
built  the  house  now  occupied  by  L.  M.  Fuller,  who 
is  a  very  useful  man  among  his  neighbors,  having  an 
intuitive  ability  to  take  hold  of  any  mechanical  work 
for  repair  or  construction  which  may  be  given  him. 

Messrs.  Hanchett  &  Harris  opened  the  first  store 
in  town  at  Token  Creek  in  1848.  It  was  a  small 
building,  14x18,  with  an  upper  chamber,  and  stood  a 
little  north  of  the  present  store.  They  occupied  the 
ground  floors,  while  Messrs.  Davy  &  Robinson,  two 
Englishmen  from  London,  used  the  upper  room  as 
shoemakers,  and  were  well  known  as  good  workmen. 
Mr.  Davy  had  at  one  time  been  a  sailor,  and  the 
constant  custom  of  sleeping  in  a  hammock  had  be- 
come so  habitual  to  him,  that  he  had  one  attached  to 
the  rafters  of  the  room  in  which  he  slept.  He  had  a 
taste  for  natural  history,  and  for  years  had  engaged 
himself  in  the  preserving  of  flies,  bugs  and  birds,  of 
which  he  had  large  assorted  specimens.  Dr.  R.  K. 
Bell  was  the  first  physician  in  the  town.  He  first 
lived  at  the  Prairie  House,  but  afterwards  built  a 
house  at  Token  Creek.  He  was  a  young  man  of  noble 
appearance,  fine  ability,  and  very  successful  in  his 
profession;  but  he  died  young. 

In  the  south  part  of  Windsor,  near  Token  Creek, 
there  is  a  large  hill  that  is  familiarly  known  as  "  Big 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  BURKE.  405 

Hill,"  and  which  in  old  times  was  looked  upon  as  the 
lighthouse  of  the  prairie,  by  which  travelers  were  able 
to  steer  their  course  when  crossing  the  open  country. 
It  was  for  many  years  their  only  way-mark  and  guide 
to  find  the  harbor  of  Token  Creek. 

Mr.  Goodrich  and  Mr.  E.  C.  Bullis  were  the  first 
blacksmiths  of  any  note,  and  were  afterwards  succeed- 
ed by  M.  C.  Connor,  who  is  still  in  Token  Creek,  but 
has  for  some  time  back  retired  from  the  forge.  Mr. 
Bullis'  house  was  moved  from  the  south  part  of  the 
town  of  Bristol  to  its  present  site,  a  distance  of  five 
miles,  and  is  occupied  by  Mr.  Connor. 

Selden  Combs  and  brother  at  one  time  had  a  brick 
yard  at  the  Creek,  but  it  is  not  now  in  operation.  When 
the  war  broke  out,  Capt.  William  A.  Fields,  who  kept 
the  hotel,  raised  a  company  for  the  war,  and  had  them 
drilled  in  the  village.  [The  first  store  in  the  village 
was  built  by  John  Douglas,  who  came  here  in  the 
year  1847.  He  is  a  part  owner  in  the  mill,  and  is  also 
engaged  in  surveying.  It  is  related  of  him  that  at 
one  time,  while  engaged  surveying  for  a  Norwegian, 
who  could  not  speak  or  understand  English,  they 
came  to  an  Indian  wigwam,  and  it  was  a  matter  of 
astonishment  to  the  Indians  that  Mr.  Douglas  and  the 
Norwegian  were  compelled  to  understand  each  other 
by  signs,  as  well  as  the  Indians  were  them.  Three 
nationalities  were  here  represented,  but  the  red  man 
was  as  favorably  situated  as  his  more  civilized  bro- 
thers, since  they  could  do  no  more  than  talk  by  signs. 
The  compass  which  Mr.  Douglas  carried  was  a  subject 


406  BANE    COUNTY    TOWNS — BUKKE. 

of  great  wonderment  to  them,  as  they  kept  turning  it 
over  to  examine  it.  When  elected  to  the  office  of 
superintendent  of  schools,  he  rode  round  the  county 
on  a  black  pony,  that  was  too  lazy  to  run  away,  and 
when  he  came  to  the  school  to  be  visited,  if  no  con- 
venient hitching  place  was  at  hand,  a  rope  carried  in 
his  saddle  bags,  Jacob's  staff,  that  he  carried  with 
him,  were  made  serviceable  for  the  occasion,  and  the 
pony  was  staked  on  the  prairie  until  again  required. 
On  one  occasion,  as  justice,  he  married  a  couple 
under  the  shade  of  an  oak  tree,  and  who  sat  in  their 
open  baggy  during  the  performance  of  the  marriage 
service.  It  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  couple 
were  made  happy,  and  though  romantic  like,  yet  in 
those  early  times  it  was  more  difficult  to  catch  a  jus- 
tice than  to  be  caught  by  one.] 

The  road  by  way  of  Token  Creek  was  in  old  times 
very  much  traveled,  as  people  passed  through  the  vil- 
lage on  their  way  to  Fort  Winnebago  and  the  piner- 
ies. It  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  see  five  or  six 
four-horse  coaches  pass  each  way  in  a  day,  and  equally 
so  to  see  a  score  of  teams  in  sight.  On  one  occasion, 
in  the  winter,  a  company  of  twenty- live  teams  passed 
through  the  village,  and  they  enlivened  the  occasion 
by  one  of  the  occupants  of  the  sleighs  playing  a  vio- 
lin with  his  hands  delicately  encased  in  gloves.  There 
were  also,  on  another  occasion,  200  head  of  cattle  and 
thirty-seven  teams,  loaded,  and  on  their  way  to  the 
pineries.  The  manner  of  supplying  the  early  setclers 
with  cattle  and  horses  was,  for  parties  from  the  south 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BUKKE.  407 

to  start  in  the  spring,  when  the  grass  was  getting  up, 
and  drive  before  them  droves  of  cattle  and  horses  with 
bells  round  their  necks,  which  enabled  the  drivers  to 
hunt  up  any  that  strayed  from  the  herd. 

Ezra  Gould  was  an  early  settler  on  section  32.  A 
painful  incident  is  connected  with  his  respected  wife, 
who  became  blind  by  accidentally  running  against 
the  sharp  point  of  the  spindle  of  a  spinning  wheel. 
She  is  now  living  at  Belleville,  and  is  a  diligent  and 
tidy  housewife  yet,  even  under  her  severe  affliction. 

The  farmers  hauled  their  wheat  to  Milwaukee  to 
market,  and  the  small  amount  paid  them  for  their 
grain  very  often  brought  them  back  in  debt,  unless 
they  were  fortunate  in  bringing  back  merchandise  or 
immigrants. 

Deer  were  plenty,  and  seen  in  droves  of  from  25  to 
100.  But  the  Indians  at  one  time  went  out  on  a  biff 
hunt,  and  drove  the  deer  toward  Fourth  Lake,  in  the 
town  of  Westport,  and  killed  over  500,  which,  to- 
gether with  the  continued  shooting  of  them  by  the 
early  settlers,  has  made  their  appearance  scarce.  Mr. 
II.  P.  Hall,  for  a  number  of  years,  kept  a  small  deer 
park;  but,  four  years  ago,  during  a  storm,  his  fence 
was  blown  down,  and  seven  of  the  deer  escaped,  and 
are  supposed  to  have  bred  in  the  woods,  as  three  or 
four  have  been  shot  in  the  neighborhood. 

On  the  elevated  prairie  land  owned  by  G.  J.  Mar- 
gerum  and  S.  A.  Cummings,  there  -was  at  one  time  a 
remarkably  good  race  course.  From  this  position  a 
magnificent  view  is  obtained  of  Madison  and  the  sur- 


408       •  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BUKKE. 

rounding  country.  The  sporting  men  from  Madison, 
as  well  as  others  in  and  out  of  the  state,  would 
gather  at  this  course  in  large  numbers,  and  witness 
many  good  horses  try  their  speed  and  excellence  in 
in  equestrian  display,  even  to  rivalling  Hiram  Wood- 
ruff. When  Kittie  Miles,  from  Canada,  ran  a  race 
here,  she  broke  from  the  course  and  ran  a  dist- 
ance of  two  miles,  to  the  barn  of  Adam  Smith,  and 
gave  the  race  to  her  competitor,  "  Little  Flea,"  from 
Long  Island,  New  York.  The  celebrated  trotter, 
Tobby  was  trained  on  this  course. 

S.  L.  Sheldon,  the  well  known  agricultural  machine 
dealer,  settled  here  about  1854,  on  sections  32  and  33. 
He  owned  150  acres  —  TO  on  section  32  and  80  on  33. 
There  were  only  seventeen  acres  under  the  plow,  forty 
heavy  timber,  while  the  balance  had  been  at  one  time 
timbered  like  the  forty,  but  was  then  thickly  covered 
with  an  underbrush  of  from  ten  to  twenty  feet  high. 
He  afterwards  added  enough  land  to  make  his  farm 
540  acres,  and  set  out  an  orchard  of  over  one  thou- 
sand trees,  put  out  about  two  miles  of  shade  trees,  and 
built  about  the  same  amount  of  fencing  that  year. 
The  farm  originally  belonged  to  an  early  jnoneer  by 
the  name  of  West,  and  who,  as  a  type  of  all  of  that 
class  of  persons,  was  unable  to  bear  the  inroads  of  civ- 
ilization, so,  as  his  name  indicates,  he  sold  his  farm 
and  went  West. 

Mr.  S.  taught  school  in  the  old  log  school  house  on 
his  farm,  which  was  one  of  the  first  district  schools, 
but  in  1855,  having  sold  that  part  of  it  to  Alex. 
Lisk,  in  the  winter  he  taught  in  his  own  log  cabin, 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE.  409 

where  he  kept  "bach,"  superintended  the  work  of 
three  hired  men,  did  the  housework,  and  sawed  and 
split  fire  wood  in  the  evening.  He  built  the  barn 
now  owned  by  Samuel  Drakely,  on  the  southeast  side 
of  the  road.  In  1857,  he  started  the  selling  of  agri- 
cultural machinery,  being  the  third  person  in  the 
business  in  this  county.  The  first  was  P.  L.  Car- 
man (of  the  firm  of  Gray  and  Carman),  and  the  second 
James  H.  Hill,  (of  the  firm  of  Davis  and  Hill),  now 
engaged  in  the  drug  business  on  King  street,  Madi- 
son. His  business,  from  this  small  beginning,  has 
kept  steadily  increasing  until  he  is  now  the  largest 
individual  dealer  in  agricultural  machinery  in  the 
United  States.  From  this  increase,  he  was  obliged  to 
sell  out  his  farm  and  confine  himself  entirely  to  busi- 
ness in  the  city  and  elsewhere,  so  that  in  1 864  P.  L. 
Carman  and  T.  S.  Phillip  bought  each  a  part  of  the 
540  acres.  He  expended  about  $10,000  in  improve- 
ments and  sold  for  $14,000,  leaving  250  acres  under 
the  plow.  A  small  portion  of  that  farm  was  after- 
wards sold  by  P.  L.  Carman  for  $450  an  acre,  with- 
out any  buildings  on  it. 

The  first  reaper  trial  in  this  section  occurred  on  the 
farm  of  II.  P.  Hall,  and  between  Mr.  Porter,  the  rep- 
resentative of  the  McCormick,  and  S.  L.  Sheldon,  of 
Seymour  and  Morgan,  which  last  was  the  successful 
machine. 

An  incident  connected  with  the  above  trial  is  re- 
corded in  regard  to  one  of  the  agents  who  was  exhib- 
iting the  McCormick  machine.  He,  at  one  time,  had 
been  engaged  in  business  in  the  east,  but  suddenly 


410  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS BUKKE. 

disappeared  from  his  accustomed  quarters,  and.  was 
never  heard  of  again.  As  the  trial  went  on,  Mr. 
Hall's  father,  who  was  visiting  at  that  time,  came 
out  of  the  house  to  witness  its  progress.  As  he  ap- 
proached one  of  the  agents,  the  old  gentleman  was 
seen  to  be  particularly  scrutinizing  of  the  personal  ap- 
pearance of  the  man,  and  finally  burst  out  with  the 

exclamation:      "Halloa!    is    that  vou,   Mr. ? 

When  did  you  come  out  here?"  No  two  men  ever 
looked  at  each  other  with  greater  astonishment  than 
they  did,  the  one  an  extensive  creditor  of  the  absent- 
ing defaulter,  and  the  other  the  veritable  debit.  It  is 
needless  to  add  that  he  also  went  west;  at  least  he 
was  mysteriously  absent  a  second  time. 

An  illustration  of  a  conscientious  regard  for  the 
true  meaning  and  intent  of  law  is  related  of  Mr.  Shel- 
don. In  1857,  he  was  elected  assessor,  and  fulfilled 
the  requirements  of  the  office  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned,  and  was  again  elected  to  fill  the  office. 
During  this  same  year  the  legislature  changed  the  old 
law  so  as  to  require  the  assessor  to  put  in  the  land  at 
its  real  value.  He  sacredly  performed  his  duty,  and 
the  result  showed  a  larger  increase  of  taxes  and  a  very 
large  amount  of  dissatisfaction  among  the  tax  payers, 
and,  though  a  very  popular  man  in  the  town,  the  feel- 
ing against  him  for  the  proper  discharge  of  his  duty 
was  such,  that  he  could  not  have  obtained  a  reelection 
to  office  at  any  price  or  under  any  consideration. 

Mr.  Sheldon  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  interest  of  the  town  when  he 


DANE    COCKTY    TOWNS BUEKE.  411 

was  a  resident  of  it,  displaying  the  same  zeal  and 
energy  which  he  has  in  his  business  calling,  and, 
in  his  new  home,  is  the  leading  incentive  to  all  mod- 
ern improvements  in  agricultural  machinery. 

P.  L.  Carman  came  to  Wisconsin  in  1847.  He  first 
located  in  Columbia  county,  while  we  were  under  the 
territorial  form  of  government.  In  1853  he  removed 
to  Madison,  where,  as  dealer  in  grain  and  coal,  and 
agricultural  implements,  he  was  known  for  many 
years,  but  for  more  than  twenty  years,  and  up  to  1874, 
he  was  best  known  in  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota  as 
agent  for  the  "Buffalo  Pitts"  Thresher.  In  August, 
1864,  he  purchased  that  portion  of  the  Sheldon  farm, 
in  the  town  of  Burke,  on  sections  32  and  33,  which  lay 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Sun  Prairie  road,  containing 
about  260  acres.  In  the  same  month  he  divided  the 
land  and  sold  to  Wm.  F.  Fitch  about  120  acres,  com- 
prising all  the  buildings  and  improvements,  reserving 
the  remaining  140  acres  for  a  residence.  He  moved 
into  the  Sheldon  house  at  once,  and  thus  became  a 
resident  of  the  town  of  Burke,  and  commenced  im- 
proving his  place  by  breaking  ground  for  a  new 
dwelling  on  the  first  day  of  September,  having 
bought,  resold  and  made  building  contracts,  all  be- 
tween the  16th  of  August  and  the  1st  of  September, 
1874.  A  large  and  substantial  brick  dwelling  house 
Avas  completed  and  occupied  by  himself  and  family  on 
the  10th  day  of  December  the  same  fall.  The  site 
selected  for  improvements,  adjoined  the  Grover  farm, 
and  was  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  timber  and 


412  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS — BURKE. 

underbrush.  The  buildings  were  located  with  great 
care,  and  the  grounds  laid  out  with  a  view  of  making 
a  beautiful  wooded  lawn.  By  having  the  grounds 
laid  out  and  plotted,  and  by  working  according  to  a 
settled  plan,  together  with  the  expenditure  of  not  a 
little  persevering  industry,  he  succeeded  in  making 
one  of  the  pleasantest  and  most  beautiful  homes  on 
the  street.  The  one  main  feature  of  the  place  was  the 
cool  green  lawn,  containing  some  six  or  eight  acres, 
surrounding  the  buildings  shaded  by  its  native  trees, 
and  added  evergreens  and  shrubbery,  and  well-kept 
drives. 

This  feature  will  be  remembered  by  those  who 
were  in  the  habit  of  passing  on  their  way  to  the  city, 
some  three  miles  distant. 

In  1873  he  sold  the  place  to  J.  C.  McKenney,  Esq., 
and  removed  to  Madison. 

J.  C.  McKenney  wTas  the  assistant  United  States 
Attorney  at  the  time  of  the  breaking  up  of  the  whis- 
ky ring,  and  successfully  prosecuted  that  portion  of 
the  rino-  which  was  tried  in  Madison.  As  the  result 
of  his  success  in  the  prosecution  of  these  cases  in 
Madison,  he  was  employed  by  the  government  as  a 
special  attorney  to  conduct  the  prosecution  of  the 
cases  of  the  same  nature  in  Milwaukee.  After  the 
close  of  this  engagement,  he  opened  an  office  in  Mil- 
waukee, for  the  general  practice  of  law,  where  he  is 
still  engaged.  His  family  lives  upon  the  farm,  which 
he  still  occupies  as  his  home. 

The  portion  of  the  Sheldon  farm  bought  by  "Wm.  F. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE.  413 

Fitch,  stepson  of  the  Hon.  Judge  Hood,  was  occupied 
by  him  early  in  the  spring  of  1865,  and  extensive  im- 
provements commenced  on  the  buildings  and  farm 
under  the  immediate  supervision  of  1ST.  B.  Van  Slyke, 
Esq.  It  was  occupied  as  a  home  by  Judge  Hood  and 
family  (together  with  that  of  Mr.  Fitch),  for  a  number 
of  years,  until  Judge  Hood  became  a  permanent  resi- 
dent in  Washington.  Mr.  Fitch  is  now  connected  in 
an  official  capacity  with  the  Chicago  &  North  western 
Railway. 

Mr.  H.  N.  Moulton  has  recently  purchased  the  old 
Isaac  Smith  farm,  on  section  33,  and  has  added  con- 
siderable to  the  general  appearance  of  the  place,  both 
internally  and  externally.  Its  proximity  to  the  high- 
way makes  it  very  observable,  as  also  the  addition  of  a 
neat  bay  window,  that  during  the  winter  Mrs.  Moulton 
had  tastefully  filled  with  house  plants,  whose  blossoms 
in  the  cold,  bleak  months  of  winter,  have  gladdened 
both  the  eye  and  the  heart,  and  made  it  a  green  spot 
in  the  memory  of  every  passer-by.  Mr.  Moulton  is  en- 
gaged in  business  in  the  city,  and  drives  to  and  from 
every  morning  and  evening. 

"Where  John  Brigham  lives,  on  section  32,  there 
was  at  one  time  a  good  hotel.  It  was  built  and  kept 
for  a  number  of  years  by  Eleazer  G-rover,  and  was  a 
well-known  -resort  for  travelers.  Bennet  Britton  also 
owned  and  kept  a  hotel  on  the  farm  at  present  owned 
by  Gen.  Harnden,  which  was  also  a  desirable  resort  in 
old  times.  It  now  stands  a  little  further  back  than 
it  did  formerly.      Gen.  Henry  Harnden  is  perhaps  not 


414:  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  BURKE. 

usually  known  to  have  been  the  person  who  captured 
Jefferson  Davis,  when  he  appeared  in  his  unmanly 
suit  toward  the  close  of  the  late  rebellion.  He  was 
colonel  of  the  First  Wisconsin  cavalry  that  pursued 
and  overtook  Davis,  near  Irwinville,  Georgia.  The 
facts  of  that  remarkable  capture  are  still  fresh  in  the 
memory  of  our  citizens,  but  the  indefatigable  endur- 
ance of  the  general  and  his  brave  men  will  never  be 
fully  known  even  from  the  lips  of  those  who  were 
participants  in  the  long  night  and  day  rides  which 
finally  resulted  in  the  capture  of  Davis.  When  taken 
prisoner,  he  expressed  a  great  deal  of  contempt  for 
the  United  States  government,  who  were  employing 
their  troops,  he  said,  to  harass  women  and  children, 
and  pacing  backward  and  forward  in  front  of  Gen. 
Harnden  and  his  command,  tried  to  assume  an  arrog- 
ance of  speech  which  was  significant  of  an  effort  to  im- 
press persons  with  an  idea  of  his  importance,  and  also 
that  he  was  not  receiving  the  respect  due  to  him,  be- 
ing simply  acknowledged  as  Mr.  Davis.  A  lady  of  the 
partjf,  said  to  be  Mrs.  Davis,  sallied  forth  from  one  of 
the  tents,  and  in  an  imploring  and  disturbed  manner, 
expressed  herself  in  the  hearing  of  the  soldiers  that 
they  must  be  careful  not  to  irritate  the  president,  as 
some  of  them  might  get  hurt. 

Gen.  Harnden  bought  this  farm  of  Maj.  Meredith, 
about  four  years  ago,  since,  which,  he  has  greatly  im- 
proved it  by  rebuilding  the  fences,  sinking  a  new  well, 
putting  up  a  wind  mill,  and  building  a  tenement 
house.     The  farm  is  at  present  under  a  very  high 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE.  415 

state  of  cultivation  and  consists  of  200  acres.     lie  is 
engaged  in  breeding  short-horn  cattle. 

Maj.  Meredith  bought  80  acres  of  this  farm  from 
Capt.  Albert  Pierson,  in  1S66,  and,  after  tearing  down 
the  old  Britton  barn,  he  built  a  large  new  one,  and 
afterwards  added  120  acres  more,  which  he  bought  of 
Mrs.  Carpenter,  the  widow  of  the  fo inner  owner,  who 
lived  in  Ohio.  He  conducted  a  general  farming 
business,  but  being  Superintendent  of  Public  Prop- 
erty under  Governors  Fairchild  and  Washburne,  did 
not  give  the  attention  to  the  farm  that  he  otherwise 
would.  The  Major  was  among  the  first  volunteers  in 
the  Second  Regiment,  and  was  First  Lieutenant  in 
Company  H.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Bui] 
Run  of  July  21,  1861,  by  which  he  lost  the  use  of  his 
arm.  He  was  commissariat  of  General  Pope's  com- 
mand. 

"  Cincinnati  Heights,"  formerly  known  as  "  Rock 
Terrace,"  is  the  residence  of  J.  M.  Dickson,  a  retired 
capitalist,  who  has  300  acres  under  cultivation.  He 
gave  it  the  present  name  in  honor  of  his  former 
place  of  residence,  Cincinnati.  Nature  has  made  it  a 
lovely  spot,  and  from  here  you  have  a  grand  view  of 
Madison,  with  the  Lakes  on  each  side.  In  the  dis- 
tance is  the  far-famed  Blue  Mounds,  where  memory 
recalls  the  place  where  the  first  settler  lived,  Ebenezer 
Brigham,  who  in  those  pioneer  days,  when  he  dug 
for  lead,  was  obliged  to  carry  it  on  his  back  to  Min- 
eral Point,  twenty  miles  distant,  and  return  with  his 
supplies  in  the  same  manner.      The  surroundings  of 


416  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  BURKE. 

this  beautiful  spot  cannot  be  penned;  they  must  be 
seen. 

The  first  proprietors  of  the  "  Heights,"  were  John 
Tweed  and  J.  Y.  Bobbins,  but  shortly  afterwards 
Robbins  bought  out  Tweed,  and  became  sole  owner. 
He  took  a  great  interest  in  the  raising  of  stock  of  the 
very  best;  buying  only  premium  cattle  wherever  he 
had  an  opportunity,  and  keeping  nothing  but  the 
best  swine,  cows,  and  horses.  He  was  the  occasion  of 
of  the  great  impetus  given  to  the  surrounding  country 
in  the  raising  of  pure  stock.  An  extensive  nursery 
was  also  carried  on  by  him,  under  the  able  superin- 
tendence of  the  late  L.  P.  Chandler,  who  was  for 
many  years  foreman  with  the  Hon.  Marshall  P. 
Wilder. 

An  idea  may  be  given  of  the  extensiveness  of  Mr. 
Robbins'  farm,  when  it  is  stated  that  the  Hons.  J.  J. 
Crittenden  and  Thomas  P.  Marshall  of  Kentucky 
(when  in  Madison  during  one  of  the  political  cam- 
paigns) were  the  guests  of  Mr.  Robbins,  and  on 
being  escorted  by  the  Governor's  Guards  out  to  his 
residence,  he  received  them  with  a  greater  number 
of  his  employes  than  the  whole  military  company, 
besides  the  display  of  flags  and  emblems  were  larger 
than  had  been  made  at  Madison. 

Being  a  great  admirer  of  the  late  Hon.  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  he  made  a  cheese  that  weighed  1,620 
pounds,  that  was  exhibited  at  our  State  Fair  in  1860, 
but  which  he  intended  presenting  to  Douglas  the 
same  year,  if  he  became  the  successful  candidate  for 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE.  417 

president  of  the  United  States.  He  did  not  get 
elected,  so  the  cheese  was  reluctantly  cut  up  and 
distributed  among  a  number  of  Mr.  Bobbins  friends, 
who  pronounced  it  a  first  class  article.  To  make  the 
cheese  Mr.  Robbins  had  his  teams  scattered  over  the 
town  solicting  milk  from  the  other  farmers,  whose 
contributions  he  paid  for. 

The  farm  now  "owned  by  H.  P.  Hall,  on  sections  20, 
21,28  and  33,  embraces,  with  other  purchases,  the 
farm  once  owned  by  Vm.  F.  Porter,  Esq.,  who  put 
up  many  of  the  buildings.  Mr.  Hall  has  since  made 
extensive  improvements,  adding  greatly  to  the  num- 
ber and  extent  of  the  buildings.  He  has  a  large  dairy 
and  furnishes  milk  to  the  citizens  of  Madison.  The 
farm  is  known  as  the  "  Orchard  Farm  "  for  the  reason 
that  there  were  once  2,600  apple  and  fruit  trees  on  the 
land.  There  are  now  about  1,600  apple  trees  of  hardy 
varieties  in  thriving  condition,  many  of  the  tender 
varieties  of  apples,  pears,  plum  and  cherry  trees  hav- 
ing proved  too  tender  for  this  climate.  This  is  per- 
haps the  largest  orchard  farm  in  the  county. 

This  farm  embraces  some  66S  acres  of  fine  land,  well 
proportioned  for  profit  and  convenience,  abundantly 
supplied  with  wood  and  water,  and  has  most  likely, 
the  finest  and  most  complete  set  of  farm  buildings  in 
this  section  of  the  country.  There  are  five  dwelling- 
houses,  five  large  barns  with  stables,  ice  house,  observ- 
atory, etc.  The  basement  used  for  cows  is  of  solid 
masonry,  60  by  120  feet.  Water  is  conducted  from 
tanks  to  parts  of  the  buildings  and  adjacent  fields, 
27 


418  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE. 

with  a  constant  supply  for  over  200  head  of  stock. 
In  the  summer  of  1858  Mr.  II.  made  some  seven  miles 
of  ditch,  the  main  one  being  8  feet  wide,  4  feet  deep 
and  3-§-  miles  in  length,  to  improve  a  large  meadow 
which  was  unprofitable,  the  neighbors  expressing 
their  pity  for  the  waste  of  money,  and  folly  of  the 
Yankee  farmer.  It  may  be  interesting  to  know  that 
that  portion  of  the  farm,  some  340  acres,  has  become 
firm  land,  bearing  heavy  grass,  and  for  years  been 
adapted  to  the  use  of  machinery  and  suitable  for 
driving  upon  with  horse  and  carriage  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year.  The  drainage  has  been  followed  up  where 
needed,  till  within  a  few  years,  and  is  now  complete. 
The  main  house  stands  off  the  road  with  a  beau- 
tiful lawn  of  two  acres  in  front,  surrounded  in  part 
by  a  magnificent  circle  of  evergreens,  which  are  some 
thirty  to  forty  feet  high,  and  form  a  shaded  drive- 
way, which  for  magnificence  is  hard  to  excel,  even  in 
older  or  wealthier  portions  of  our  country.  The  views 
from  parts  of  the  farm  are  extensive  and  charming, 
embracing  views  of  Madison,  the  lakes,  asylum  and 
Blue  Mounds.  This  farm  was  entered  for  premium 
farm  in  1S60,  and  though  then  in  a  crude  condition, 
the  committee  of  the  Wisconsin  State  Agricultural 
Society,  made  the  following  mention: 

This  farm  has  every  variety  of  land  necessary    to  make  an  ex- 
cellent gram  and  stock  farm.    These  superior  natural  advantages 

are  being  well  improved  by  Mr.  Hall It  is  but  four  years  since 

this  entire  farm  was  in  a  state  of  nature.  We  find  the  buildings  all 
in  excellent  condition,  comprising  every  convenience  of  an  old  New 
England  farm  that  has  been  improved  a  hundred  years He 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE.  419 

depends  upon  no  one  tiling'  to  make  his  farm  profitable,  but  is  de- 
veloping each  branch  of  agriculture  with  zeal,  system  and  apparent 
success.  His  horses  are  good,  substantial  animals,  without  running 
specially  to  fancy;  his  cattle  are  all  good,  and  means  are  being 
used  for  their  improvement,  ....  and  everything  is  kept  in  a  man- 
ner that  indicates  good  skill  and  economy  in  his  operations He 

is  doing  a  noble  work  in  reclaiming  a  marsh  on  the  back  part  of  his 

farm There  can  be  but  little  doubt  but  land  that  a  year  or  two 

ago  was  so  wet  that  it  was  useless,  will  be  made  the  most  vain  aide 
on  his  farm.     W.  S.  A.  T.,  pp.  146-7,  1860. 

As  hioji  as  13J-  bushels  of  wheat  have  been  raised 
on  an  acre  of  land,  and  138  bushels  of  corn,  under 
most  favorable  seasons  and  circumstances.  Mr.  Hall 
being  one  of  the  executive  committee  for  a  number 
of  years  afterwards,  was  of  course  precluded  from 
making  a  contest  for  a  premium  a  second  time. 

The  amount  of  capital  invested  in  this  farm  is  an 
exhibit,  not  only  of  the  great  confidence  and  faith 
which  Mr.  Hall  has  had  in  the  rich  and  prolific  bearing 
of  the  soil,  but  of  that  stability  of  aim  which  has  had 
the  power  and  the  will  to  make  even  the  sterile  lands 
subservient  to  his  purposes.  There  has  been  expend- 
ed in  the  way  of  improvements  over  $70,000,  an 
amount  that  would  (in  proportion  to  what  is  deemed 
certain  investments  in  commercial  circles)  startle  and 
amaze  many.  The  tact  of  managing  his  farm  and 
hired  help  is  Avell  worth  imitation  by  all  who  find  that 
their  bane  is  poor  help.  He  is  particular  in  his  first 
agreement  with  his  hands,  so  that  no  misunderstand- 
ing may  occur  by  which  either  party  may  be  disap- 
pointed in  their  expectations;  and  then  he  is  also  in 
sympathy  with  them  because  of  a  rule  he  has  of  not 


420  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BUBKE. 

asking  too  much,  knowing  that  human  endurance  has 
a  limit  both  physically  and  morally.  He  requires  no 
extra  labor,  however  trivial,  that  is  not  compensated 
by  its  equivalent  in  pay.  There  are  over  thirty  souls 
that  live  and  are  dependent  on  the  labors  of  this  farm. 

When  the  bustle  and  hurry  of  spring,  summer  and 
fall  work  have  somewhat  relieved  the  constant  friction 
of  their  bearing  on  the  hired  help,  Mr.  Hall  gives 
them  a  social  entertainment,  in  which  they  have 
music,  together  with  a  choice  selection  of  the  crea- 
ture comforts.  On  one  occasion  the  Madison  brass 
band  resolved  to  compliment  Mr.  H.  and  family  by  a 
serenade,  and  engaged  an  express  wagon  to  carry  them 
out  to  his  house.  After  discoursing  some  of  their 
sweet  strains,  the  hospitalities  of  the  house  were  kind- 
ly proffered  them.  The  teamster  having  delivered 
his  charge,  tied  his  horses  in  a  convenient  place,  and 
prepared  for  a  night's  frolic.  As  the  hours  moved  on, 
the  horses  became  restive  and  finally  broke  loose  and 
ran  away.  "When  informed  by  some  one  of  the  fact, 
the  driver,  who  was  of  Teutonic  origin,  came  rushing 
out  in  an  excited  state,  addressed  every  one  he  met 
with  the  exclamation:  "  "Who  tie  mv  horse  loose  ! 
Who  tie  my  horse  loose  f  "  The  horees  were  after- 
wards found  tied  loose,  about  two  miles  distant  on 
the  Token  Creek  road. 

Mr.  Geo.  J.  Margerum,  lately  of  Youngstown,  Ohio, 
has  bought  the  farm,  on  section  22,  formerly  owned  by 
II.  P.  Hall,  and  now  known  as  "  Fairview  Farm," 
and   has  made    some  very  extensive    changes  there. 


DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  BUKKE.  421 

The  improvements  are  of  a  superior  character  and  he 
seems  to  take  advantage  of  his  opportunities,  as  may 
be  seen  by  the  neat  and  useful  observatory  he  has 
constructed;  in  putting  his  windmill  to  a  double 
purpose.  The  frame  is  boxed  in  with  wood,  and  neatly 
painted,  while  inside  a  stair  is  built  with  conveni- 
ent platforms  at  each  alternate  angle,  which  leads 
to  the  top,  and  from  which  a  commanding  and  pleas- 
sing  view  is  obtained  of  the  rich  and  beautiful  fields, 
all  over  the  country;  the  churches  of  Sun  Prairie, 
the  Blue  Mounds  in  the  distance,  towns  of  West- 
port,  Springfield,  Dane,  Vienna,  "Windsor,  are  all  set 
out  before  the  eye  in  panoramic  beauty,  while  Madi- 
son, with  its  surroundings,  lies  in  queenly  grandeur  in 
the  sunlight  of  her  magnificient  lakes.  Mr.  Margerum 
intends  adding  still  further  to  the  conveniences  of  the 
tower  inside  and  out.  He  has  made  some  purchases 
of  choice  horses,  cattie  and  sheep,  and  purposes  engag- 
ing in  the  raising  of  stock,  having  prepared  his  large 
barn  $nd  other  buildings  for  that  object. 

Mr.  Robert  Ogilvie,  the  present  owner  of  the  '76 
farm  on  section  — ,  is  engaged  in  raising  pure  breed 
Clydesdale  horses.  His  farm  is  still  kept  under  good 
cultivation,  although  he  is  much  occupied  with  his 
business  in  the  city  of  Madison.  He  has  concen- 
trated a  great  deal  of  attention  in  the  raising  of  pure 
stock,  but  more  especially  horses.  That  our  readers 
may  have  some  conception  of  the  character  of  these 
horses,  we  herewith  submit  a  description  of  them, 
showing  their  breeding  and  pedigree: 


422  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS — EUKKE. 

"Marquis  of  Lorne,"  two  years  old,  and  will  now  weigh 
over  1,600  pounds,  and  from  the  time  he  was  a  foal  by  his  mother's 
side  up  to  the  present,  he  has  never  failed  to  carry  away  the  first 
honors  in  any  ring  wherever  shown,  at  the  many  state  and  comity 
fairs  he  has  attended. 

"Robbie  Burns  "  is  a  powerful  brown  horse  seven  years  old, 
stands  1G}4  hands  high  and  weighs  over  2,000  pounds,  on  remark- 
able good  legs,  great  bone  and  .substance,  combined  with  superior 
action  and  good  temper.  He  is  pronounced  the  most  perfect  model 
of  a  Clydesdale  horse  in  Scotland  or  America,  lie  was  bred  by 
Mr.  Wilson  Brittlebog,  Kilburnie  (Scotland)  and  sired  by  Rabbie 
Burns,  the  property  of  Mr.  Clark,  Manswraes,  Kdburchan.  His 
dam  was  also  one  of  the  successful  mares  that  carried  off  the  prizes 
at  several  of  the  local  fairs  in  her  district.  Robbie  Burns  was  first 
exhibited  at  the  great  horse  show  in  Milwaukee,  and  took  second  in 
his  class  and  second  in  sweepstakes,  being  beaten  in  both  only  by 
the  farfamed  "Donald  01111116.' '  He  took  first  prizes  hi  Quincy, 
111.,  and  first  at  the  great  horse  fair  hi  St.  Louis,  which  has  ever 
been  regarded  as  the  largest  and  most  prominent  agricultural  fair 
held  on  this  continent. 

"  Duke  of  Buocleuch,"  one  year  old,  a  worthy  Son  of  the  fam- 
ous Donald  Dimiie.  who  won  the  international  medal  at  the  Centen- 
nial Exhibition  hi  Philadelphia  last  year. 

"  Princess,"  a  pure  bred  hn  ported  Clylepdale  mare,  six  years  old, 
weighing  over  1,900  pounds,  and  has  been  a  first  prize  winner  at 
every  fair  where  she  has  been  shown  since  her  importation  to  this 
country. 

"Gypsy  Queen,"  five  years  old;  another  pure  bred,  imported 
Clydesdale  mare,  who  took  first  in  her  class  two  years  ago  at  the 
great  horse  show  at  St.  Louis, 

In  addition  to  the  above,  Mr.  Ogilvie  has  many 
other  valuable  horses,  which  undoubtedly  place  his 
entire  stock  superior  to  any  other  in  this  state.  There 
are  other  specialities  here,  apart  from  his  horses;  in 
the  way  of  good  hogs  and  cattle.  The  hogs  are  par- 
ticularly good,  being  first  prize  and  sweepstakes 
winners  at  our  state  and  county  fairs;  they  are  the 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE.  423 

justly  famous  Berkshire  breed,  now  so  popular  among 
the  first  feeders  and  breeders  of  the  present  day.  The 
cattle  are  pure  bred  and  graded  short  horns,  and  like 
everything  else  on  the  farm,  are  not  to  be  surpassed 
anywhere. 

There  is  a  spring  on  the  farm  that  is  known  as  the 
head  of  the  "  Clyde  Creek  "  which  flows  in  a  south- 
westerly direction,  through  the  town  of  Blooming 
Grove  into  Third  lake.  Philo  Dunning  for  some 
years  had  a  saw  mill  on  the  stream,  at  a  place  which 
was  known  by  some  as  "Millwood." 

Mr.  Henry  G  ilman  owns  a  fine  large  farm  of  400 
acres,  on  section  22,  known  as  "  Hill  Side "  farm. 
It  was  at  one  time  owned  by  J.  V.  Robbing,  who 
put  a  very  extensive  and  expensive  lot  of  buildings 
on  it,  and  called  them  the  "farm-house,"  but  which 
were  accidentally  destroyed  by  fire,  when  owned  by 
Dexter  Curtis.  The  thorough  and  extensive  improve- 
ments which  Mr.  Gilman  has  made,  rank  with  the 
leading  farms  in  town.  He  has  rebuilt  a  portion  of 
the  barns,  refitted  the  elegant  white  brick  house,  situa- 
ted a  few  rods  from  the  road,  beautifully  surrounded 
with  evergreens,  and  is  devoting  himself  entirely  to 
the  raising  of  stock.  He  is  at  present  engaged  in 
erecting  a  barn  on  the  old  site  of  the  famous  Robbins 
barn,  which  was  the  most  complete  building  for  that 
purpose  in  the  state.  The  new  barn  will  measure 
fifty  by  one  hundred  feet,  and  is  intended  as  a  rival 
to  its  predecessor.  The  well  arranged  conveniences 
which  surround  his  farm  are  not  surpassed  by  any 


421  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  BURKE. 

other  in  the  county,  and  he  is  making  it  his  object 
to  spare  neither  labor  nor  money  in  making  it  a 
model  farm  in  every  particular.  There  are  two  cis- 
terns, one  of  which  holds  1,500  and  the  other  1 ,000 
barrels  of  water,  that  are  in  themselves  sufficient  to 
house  both  flocks  and  herds.  He  has  a  convenient 
platform  scale  in  front  of  his  farm,  for  the  use  of 
himself  and  neighbors,  in  weighing  hay  and  cattle. 
His  wells  are  thirty  feet  deep  in  the  soil,  and  then 
drilled  through  rock  the  same  distance.  While  the 
workmen  were  engaged  drilling,  they  struck  a  vein 
of  water  that  precipitated  the  drill  eighteen  inches 
down,  and  an  endless  flow  of  water  at  any  season  and 
under  all  circumstances  was  the  result. 

Mr.  Gilman  is  a  son  of  Gen.  John  C.  Gilman-,  of 
Water  town,  one  of  the  oldest  pioneer  settlers  of  the 
state.  He  and  Tim.  Johnson  were  the  first  to  settle 
in  Watertown,  having  come  in  the  winter  of  1836. 
In  the  spring  of  1817  he  was  engaged  to  locate  the 
school  lands  in  the  Mineral  Point  district,  and  em- 
ployed John  Douglas  as  surveyor,  to  assist  him.  On 
the  discovery  of  gold  in  California,  the  General  im- 
migrated there,  and  remaining  a  few  years  returned 
home,  then  started  for  Pike's  Peak,  and  afterwards  to 
Montana,  where  he  died  in  1869.  Soon  after  the 
selection  of  the  land  for  school  purposes,  and  imme- 
diately at  the  conclusion  of  the  Mexican  war,  he,  in 
consequence  of  his  acquaintance  with  the  land,  lo- 
cated a  large  number  of  pieces  for  those  who  held  land 
warrants,  and  at  the  same  time  located  three  quarter 


DANE   COUNTY    TOWNS BUEKE.  425 

sections  for  himself,  in  the  town  of  Vienna,  which 
he  afterwards  bought  and  sold  to  his  son  Henry,  who 
broke  up  the  land  and  farmed  it  for  some  years,  but 
selling  out,  went  into  the  mercantile  business  in  the 
village  of  Sun  Prairie,  his  chief  object  being  to  secure 
better  opportunities  for  educating  his  children.  Hav- 
ing a  good  chance  to  dispose  of  this  business,  he  sold 
and  bought  his  present  location,  the  Robbins  farm. 
He  has  again  entered  business  in  Sun  Prairie,  being  a 
partner  in  the  firm  of  Gilman,  Moak  and  Weigan. 

Near  the  back  of  his  house  there  is  a  knoll  that 
is  said  to  be  the  highest  point  of  land  in  the  town, 
and  which  Mr.  Robbins,  when  he  owned  the  farm, 
was  undecided  whether  to  build  there  or  on  "  Cincin- 
nati Heights."  The  view  from  here  is  equally  inten- 
sifying in  grandeur  to  that  of  the  others,  and  with 
surrounding  fields  spread  round  the  knoll,  is  sugges- 
tive of  the  times  when  chiefs  assembled  their  follow- 
ers around  some  such  eminence  for  the  purpose  of 
harranguing  them.  A  host  could  be  gathered  round 
this  spot,  and  their  leader's  every  gesture  and  word 
seen  and  heard  with  distinctness.  On  the  opposite 
side  of  the  highway,  there  is  a  portion  of  land  that 
looks  like  a  twin  sister  to  this  knoll,  and  may  at  one 
time  have  been  part  of  it.  It  is  on  Mr.  Margerum's 
farm,  and  has  been  opened  and  excellent  stone  ob- 
tained for  building  purposes. 

Doctor  Wightman  and  Mr.  Damon  were  the  first 
owners  of  the  farm  now  owned  by  La  Fayette  Stow,  on 
section  23.     Mr.  Stow  has  moved  the  double  house 


426  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS — BURKE. 

farther  from  the  road,  to  a  more  convenient  and  pleas- 
anter  place,  and  built  a  line,  large  barn,  with  a  stone 
basement. 

On  the  road  between  sections  21  and  22,  there  is  a  hill 
known  as  "  Norwegian  Hill "  (named  so  because  a  num- 
ber of  citizens  of  that  nationality  reside  near  there). 
It  has  lately  been  graded  and  greatly  improved.  On 
the  top  of  this  hill,  N.  B.  Yan  Slyke,  Esq.,  has  a  fine 
farm  with  a  good  view  of  the  city  in  the  distance. 

Ensign  hill,  on  section  10,  is  well  known  as  one  of 
the  places  where  a  good  view  of  the  county  can  be 
obtained.  It  is  called  Ensign  hill,  because  a  gentle- 
man of  that  name  owned  the  farm  on  this  section.  It 
is  noted  for  its  cold  exposure  in  winter,  so  that  a 
common  expression  among  the  neighbors  is  to  say, 
"as  cold  as  Ensign  hill." 

Some  of  the  early  settlers  are,  Mr.  Dailey,  on  sec- 
tion 33,  Gardner  Cotrell  on  23,  A.  D.  Goodrich  on  9, 
F.  II.  Talcott  On  15,  James  Sullivan  and  H.  D.  Good- 
enow  on  34,  C.  M.  Nichols  and  George  Nichols  on  36, 
Thomas  Itathbim  on  11,  Thomas  Sandon  and  J.  P. 
AV.  Hill  on  5,  Martin  Lewis  on  1,  S.  W.  Thompson 
on  12,  Torkel  Gulekson  and  Guilder  Olson  on  24. 

The  farm  of  Sidney  II.  Hall  comprises  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  prairie  and  opening.  It  is 
pleasantly  situated,  and  affords  a  fine  view  of  Madi- 
son and  the  lakes.  Brought  under  cultivatian  in  1857, 
it  was  originally  a  grain  farm,  but  at  present  is  de- 
voted to  market  gardening,  and  is  also  the  home  of  a 
herd  of  Alderney  cattle.     An  orchard  of  500  trees  and 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE.  427 

a  well  130  feet  deep  are  the  principal  attractions  of 
the  place.  From  the  bottom  of  this  well  may  always 
be  heard  the  rippling  of  an  unseen  spring.  One  of 
the  earliest  windmills  in  the  country  was  set  up  over 
this  well. 

The  farm  of  Adam  Smith  comprises  520  acres,  on 
sections  13  and  14,  and  is  beautifully  situated.  It  is 
part  prairie,  oak  openings  and  meadow  lands,  and  the 
house  is  acknowledged  to  be  the  most  complete  in  the 
county.  He  came  west  in  1837,  and  was  one  of  those 
who  worked  on  the  capitol,  and  afterward  purchased 
the  interest  of  Pineo,  the  "  shingle  weaver,''  and  made 
shingles  for  the  capitol  contractors.  He  kept  tavern  on 
his  present  farm  for  twenty-eight  years,  and  was  the 
first  that  staked  out  the  road  between  Token  Creek 
road  and  Sun  Prairie.  He  also  assisted  in  laying- 
out  the  one  between  Cottage  Grove  and  the  Creek. 
"When  he  kept  tavern,  his  house  was  much  fretpuented, 
and  many  social  gatherings  were  held  there  that  recall 
pleasant  recollections  among  many  early  settlers. 

As  justice  of  the  peace,  he  sometimes  made  the  law 
subservient  to  the  circumstances  of  the  case.  A  thief 
was  once  caused  to  pay  the  penalty  of  his  crime  by 
walking  through  the  slush  roads  back  to  the  place  he 
committed  the  depredation,  and  after  suitable  apology 
and  a  reprimand,  was  set  at  liberty;  while  on  another 
occasion,  he  threatened  to  chastise  two  clients  that 
would  not,  at  his  suggestion,  come  to  an  amicable  set- 
tlement. Many  and  singular  samples  of  humanity 
put  up  at  his  tavern,  and  if  unable  to  pay,  a  candid 


428  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  BURKE. 

acknowledgment  of  the  fact  was  sufficient  for  him,  but 
it  sometimes  happened  that  an  impostor  would  try  to 
take  advantage  of  the  landlord's  generous  hospitality. 
A  man  of  considerable  physical  power  once  took 
breakfast  there,  and  refused  to  pay  because  he  had  no 
money.  Mr.  Smith  seemed  to  doubt  him,  when  the 
fellow,  seemingly  conscious  of  his  physical  superiority, 
boldly  walked  off.  He  was  pursued  by  Mr.  Smith, 
and  after  a  desperate  struggle  brought  back,  when 
$300  in  gold  was  found  tied  securely  round  his  waist. 
He  was  made  to  pay  for  his  breakfast,  and  also,  as  Mr. 
Smith  called  it,  the  legal  expenses  of  bringing  him 
back. 

Mr.  Smith  was  considered  a  dead  shot  with  the 
rifle.  The  elk  horns  that  were  exhibited  for  so  many 
years  at  Kodermund's  brewery  were  supposed  to  be 
the  results  of  his  rifle. 

The  grist  mill  on  section  5  was  commenced  in  1849 
by  David  C.  Butterfield,  a  peculiar  and  eccentric  man, 
that  in  early  times  did  some  trading  with  the  Indians. 
He  did  not  complete  the  mill,  but  Rasdall  and  Loomis 
bought  and  finished  it,  and  it  is  still  in  operation  and 
a  great  convenience  to  the  surrounding  country.  Ras- 
dall was  an  old  pioneer  settler  and  Indian  trader,  and 
was  one  of  the  spy  scouts  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
He  was  accidentally  killed  by  getting  into  the  gearing 
of  the  mill. 

Douglas  and  Parfey  built  and  owned  the  grist  mill 
in  the  south  part  of  Windsor,  at  Token  Creek,  and 
soon  after  Mr.  Douglas  became  sole  proprietor.     It 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS BUKKE.  429 

was  badly  constructed  at  first,  so  that  new  wheels  and 
gearing  had  to  be  put  in  and  the  dam  thoroughly  re- 
paired, making  it  an  expensive  investment  to  the  then 
owner.     He  now  has  a  half  interest  it. 

At  Token  Creek,  in  Windsor,  near  the  line,  there  is 
a  number  of  springs  which  are  now  being  success- 
fully used  by  Ellis  Lawrence  as  a  fish  hatchery.  He 
has  made  two  ponds,  and  has  about  fifteen  hundred 
trout  in  them.  It  promises  to  be  an  excellent  spot 
for  the  purpose  he  is  now  engaged  in  developing. 

Abner  Cady  built  the  first  brick  house  in  the  town, 
on  section  16,  the  brick  of  which  he  made  himself. 
It  is  now  occupied  by  Hermon  Olson. 

David  Grafton,  a  veterinary  surgeon,  who  lives  on 
section  3,  has  a  far-famed  reputation  for  his  profes- 
sional skill  in  the  treatment  of  the  diseases  of  all 
kinds  of  Cattle  and  horses,  the  latter  more  especially, 
and  is  much  sought  after  amono;  those  needing  his 
attention.  He  is  a  man  of  remarkably  generous  im- 
pulses, and  for  which  he  is  even  more  highly  esteemed 
than  he  is  professionally.  "Uncle  David,"  as  he  is 
familiarly  and  affectionately  called,  has  a  heart  too 
large  to  be  measured  by  the  world's  narrow  guage. 
No  neighbor  ever  feels  the  sharp  shaft  of  sorrow,  that 
does  not  find  in  him  a  soothing  and  helpful  friend  in 
need;  and  no  wayfarer  ever  passes  his  house  whose 
wants  are  not  bountifully  supplied,  and  he  set  on  his 
way  rejoicing.  He  is  a  man  of  upwards  of  seventy 
years,  but  yet  is  so  hale  and  hearty,  that  he  bids  fair 
to  outlive  many  of  his  juniors.     It  will  be  a  dark  day 


■430  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS — BUKKE. 

to  the  town  when  it  shall  he  known  that  the  "golden 
bowl  is  broken, and  the  silver  cord  loosed,"  and  "Un- 
cle David''  gone  to  his  long  home. 

The  first  and  only  church  is  on  section  15,  with  a 
cemetery  attached.  It  belongs  to  the  Norwegian 
Lutherans.  There  is  a  Grange  Hall  on  section  23, 
and  nine  public  school  houses  and  eleven  school  dis- 
tricts, including  joint  districts.  The  track  of  Madi- 
son and  Portage  Hailroad  passes  through  the  western 
part  of  the  town,  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St. 
Paul  on  the  southeast,  and  the  Northwestern,  the 
southwest  corner. 

There  are  cemetery  grounds  on  sections  14  and  26. 

That  part  of  the  road  leading  out  to  the  Insane 
Asylum,  from  Madison,  passes  over  a  part  of  the  west- 
ern line  of  the  town,  and  is  familiarly  known  as  Sugar 
Bush  grove,  from  the  number  of  maple  trees  growing 
there.  It  is  the  leading  road  to  the  Asylum,  and 
also  to  several  of  the  towns  north  of  Burke. 

The  town  is  near  the  city  of  Madison,  and  one  of 
the  principal  thoroughfares  from  the  city  is  a  leading 
artery  through  the  town  of  Burke  to  several  of  the 
towns  in  the  county,  and  is  known  as  the  "Sun  Prairie 
road."  It  is  directly  in  a  line  with  the  State  capital 
in  a  northeastern  direction.  It  was  at  one  time  part 
of  the  old  military  road  to  Green  Bay.  That  portion 
of  the  road  lying  nearest  the  city  was  for  years  a 
source  of  trouble  to  the  citizens,  in  consequence  of 
the  marshy  character  of  the  ground  leading  over  the 
creek,  and  impassible  in  spring  or  wet  weather.     Mr. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BURKE.  431 

II.  P.  Hall  agreed  with  a  number  of  the  citizens  to 
fill  up  the  marsh  provided  they  would  contribute  to- 
ward the  expense.  The  work  was  clone,  and  is  now 
one  of  the  best  parts  of  the  road. 

Mr.  S.  A.  Cummings  is  recently  from  Massachus- 
sets,  and  has  bought  what  is  known  as  the  "Floral 
Hill"  farm,  and  is  engaged  in  general  farming. 

David  Prindle  was  an  early  settler  on  section  26, 
and  was,  before  he  died,  the  oldest  man  in  town.  He 
died  at  about  ninety  years  of  age. 

Washington  Woodward,  on  sec.  11,  has  some  fast 
horses  which  lately  carried  off  the  prize  at  Stoughton. 

C.  G.  Lewis,  son  of  Martin  Lewis,  and  brother  of 
H.  M.  Lewis,  attorney,  Madison,  has  a  fine  farm  on 
section  one.  The  road  here  is  beautifully  situated  for 
a  drive,  and  those  having  fast  horses  often  use  the 
street  as  a  place  to  try  their  speed.  The  old  gentle- 
man is  about  eighty  years  of  age,  and  drives  the  cows 
to  the  pasture  like  a  youngster. 

Judge  L.  B.  Yilas  owns  nearly  all  of  section  36, 
on  which  there  are  some  springs  that  have  mineral 
properties  of  a  medicinal  character  in  them. 

The  soil  is  good  for  grain  and  stock  raising,  while 
water  is  both  good  and  plenty.  Some  of  the  best 
farms,  best  buildings  and  modern  improvements  are 
to  be  found  in  this  town,  and  with  its  location  and 
numerous  advantages  will  be  ranked  among  the  best 
in  the  state.  The  people  are  of  an  enterprising,  steady 
character,  made  up  of  several  nationalities,  and  noted 
for  a  development  of  a  thorough  knowledge  of  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  all  its  bearings. 


432  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DEEKFIELD. 


DEERFIELD. 

BY  K.  O.  HEIMDAL. 

Tins  town  is  the  third  from  the  north  and  south,  in 
the  eastern  tier  of  towns  in  the  county,  occupying  the 
whole  of  township  No.  7,  range  No.  12  east,  and  was 
set  off  from  Cottage  Grove,  which  bounds  it  on  the 
west;  and  organized  as  a  separate  town  in  1849.  The 
first  town  meeting  was  held  April  3,  the  same  year,  at 
the  house  of  D.  R.  Hyer,  and  thirty-five  votes  were 
polled,  and  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Allan 
E.  Adsit,  chairman;  Emery  Sampson  and  George 
R.  Fryer,  supervisors;  II.  L.  Foster,  town  clerk; 
Benjamin  Potter,  treasurer;  and  Martin  W.  Adsit, 
assessor. 

Previous  to,  and  during  the  early  settlement,  deer 
were  very  plenty,  and  when  the  sleighing  was  good, 
it  was  a  favorite  method  to  hunt  with  teams,  and 
generally  with  good  success,  and  so  it  was  suggested 
that  the  town  should  be  called  Deerfield. 

The  first  house  put  up  in  this  town  was  on  section 
18,  on  the  road  from  Madison  to  Milwaukee,  by 
Philip  Kearney.  The  work  on  the  house  was  done  by 
Judge  N.  F.  Hyer  and  others.  It  was  intended  for  a 
half-way  house  between  Madison  and  Aztalan,  and 
is  said  to  have  been  occupied  only  a  short  time;  but 
by  whom,  we  have  been  unable  to  ascertain.  The  house 
was  built  in  the  summer  of  1839,  soon  after  those  long 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DEERFIELD.  433 

corduroy  bridges  were  finished  across  the  marshes,  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  town.  The  lumber  for  this 
house  was  drawn  from  Lake  Mills,  by  B.  Ingraham, 
who  afterwards  settled  in  the  town ;  but  not  having  a 
permanent  occupant,  it  was  in  a  short  time  ruined, 
and  carried  off  piecemeal. 

Judge  Hyer,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers,  has  cour- 
teously furnished  the  following  exceedingly  interest- 
ing letter,  which  we  quote  in  full,  and  wish  he  had 
given  us  a  still  further  resume  of  his  early  Wiscon- 
sin history.  He  resided  in  Wisconsin  from  1836  un- 
til 1849,  when  he  left  for  the  South,  on  account  of  ill 
health,  residing  most  of  the  time  in  New  Orleans. 
He  still  continues  to  cherish  a  deep  interest  in  every- 
thing that  relates  to  the  settlement  of  Wisconsin,  both 
past  and  present.    He  writes: 

In  the  fall  of  1837,  Capt.  Stansbury,  with  Lieuts.  J.  D.  Webster 
and  Charles  Hagner,  of  the  U.  S.  Engineer  Department,  came  to 
Milwaukee  for  the  purpose  of  expending  an  appropriation  by  the 
government  in  making  a  road  from  Milwaukee  to  Madison,  on  the 
most  direct  and  practicable  route.  They  being  unacquainted  with 
the  country,  Capt.  Stansbury  sent  for  me,  then  residing  at  Aztalan, 
to  come  and  pilot  them  through,  which  I  did.  On  arriving  at  Az- 
talan and  finding  comfortable  accommodations  at  the  house  of 
Thomas  Brayton,  Esq.,  who  had  recently  arrived,  and  discovering 
it  to  be  very  impracticable  to  ride  through  on  the  route  to  Madi- 
son, on  account  of  the  impassable  marshes,  I  was  employed  to 
make  the  survey  through,  which  I  did,  but  not  without  some 
suffering,'  as  there  was  some  nine  miles  of  the  way  so  surrounded 
with  marsh  that  it  was  impossible  to  get  on  with  team  or  pack 
horse,  so  we  had  to  take  on  our  backs  the  tent,  camp  equipage,  pro- 
visions, etc.  The  day  was  cold,  and  we  had  to  wade  streams  and 
marshes,  and,  before  reaching  the  point  selected  for  camping,  my 
pantaloons  became  frozen  to  my  boots,  my  boots  to  my  stockings,  and 
28 


434  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  — DEERFIELD. 

stockings  to  my  feet,  and  my  feet,  as  a  matter  of  course,  became 
somewhat  cold,  but  the  sensation  was  rather  that  of  pain  than  cold. 
We  soon  had  a  rousing  fire;  I  cut  the  boots  from  my  feet,  and 
spent  most  of  the  night  in  making  moccasins  for  use  the  next  day. 
My  assistants  did  not  appear  to  suffer  so  much.  We  soon  found 
ourselves  tolerably  comfortable,  and,  after  partaking  of  a  hearty 
meal,  hastily  cooked,  began  to  feel  quite  well  again,  and  turned  in 
for  the  night,  but  soon  the  sensation  of  thirst  came  upon  us,  when 
we  realized  the  fact  that  we  had  not  with  us  a  pad  or  bucket  to  get 
water  from  the  stream  (Koshkonong  creek)  which  was  near  by.  One 
offered  to  go  and  get  the  water,  if  he  had  anything  to  bring  it  in; 
another  offered  his  boots  for  buckets;  this  being  the  best  we  could 
do  under  the  circumstances,  was  adopted,  and  we  were  thus  enabled 
to  quench  our  thirst.  The  next  day  we  succeeded  in  readiing  Madison. 

"Why  the  Half-way  House  was  built: 

The  next  season,  in  October,  1839,  Philip  Kearney,  a  gentleman 
residing  in  the  city  of  New  York,  father  of  Gen.  Phil.  Kearney,  of 
the  U.  S.  army,  who  was  killed  in  the  rebellion,  sent  his  nephew 
P.  J.  Kearney  with  an  introductory  letter  requesting  me  to  assist  hi 
Locating  some  land  in  Wisconsin.  I  started  with  him  for  Madison, 
on  his  way  to  Mineral  Point,  where  the  Land  Office  was  then  kept. 
Our  new  road  not  being  then  opened,  we  went  by  way  of  Sun 
Prairie,  where  lived  three  brothers,  by  the  name  of  Lawrence,  in  a 
small  cabin,  who  entertained  travelers  as  well  as  they  could;  there 
we  arrived  about  one  o'clock,  tired  and  hungry;  we  wanted  our 
horses  fed  and  dinner  for  ourselves.  We  succeeded  hi  getting  feed 
for  our  horses,  but  for  ourselves  they  had  nothing  but  one  wild 
goose;  nothing  to  cook  him  with,  and  nothing  to  eat  with  him 
when  cooked.  Mr.  K.  wanted  him  roasted;  so  a  fire  was  made,  and 
the  goose  strung  up  for  roasting.  Those  who  have  not  watched  the 
slow  roasting  of  a  turkey  or  goose,  when  very  hungry,  cannot  realize 
our  condition  while  watching  and  waiting  for  that  goose.  Mr.  K. 
at  length  becoming  impatient,  asked  me  if  1  woidd  not  select  a 
place  on  our  new  road  about  half  way  between  Aztalan  and  Madi- 
son and  have  a  double  log  house  built  where  travelers  could  be  ac- 
commodated. I  told  him  I  would,  and  did;  and  that  is  the  way  the 
first  house  in  Deerfield  was  built.  Mr.  Philip  Kearney  paid  for  the 
land  and  the  house. 

It  now  occurs  to  me  that  of  twenty  men,  including  the  three  gov- 
ernment engineers,  assisting  in  making  that  survey,  none  are  left 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DEEEFIELD.  435 

save  Levi.  P.  Drake  and  John  Starkweather,  of  Madison,  and  your 
humble  servant,  Nath.  F.  Hyeh. 

The  bridges  or  causeways  mentioned  above  were 
built  for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  travel  across 
the  marshes  by  the  several  stages,  whose  route  lay 
through  the  town,  and  was  done  by  the  filling  up  of 
the  marsh  with  every  kind  of  brush  and  waste  ma- 
terial found  near  by,  and  then  large  logs  felled  and 
laid  across.  In  the  wet  season  it  frequently  happened 
that  the  stages  would  drive  over  these  causeways, 
with  the  water  nearly  up  to  the  wheel  hubs.  The 
changes  incident  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  have 
materially  affected  these  roads  for  the  better,  and  they 
are  now  dry  and  substantial. 

The  first  settlers  in  this  town  were  Norwegians,  and 
and  the  first  Nels  Siverson.  He  settled  on  section 
35,  and  built  a  cabin  in  the  spring  of  1840.  Tie  is  still 
living,  but  resides  in  Minnesota.  In  1842,  his  brother 
Ole  Siverson,  settled  on  section  33,  where  he  still  con- 
tinues to  live.  Lars  Davidson  settled  on  section  28, 
the  same  year,  and  is  still  in  the  town.  In  June,  1843, 
Colben  Olson  and  his  brother,  Stork  Olson,  settled  on 
section  30,  and  still  continues  to  reside  there;  and 
about  the  same  time,  B.  Ingraham  and  David  T£. 
Hyer,  the  first  two  Americans  in  the  town,  located 
together  on  section  9,  where  the  village  of  Deerfield 
now  is,  built  a  tavern,  which  they  conducted  for  some 
years,  and  then  dissolved  partnership,  Mr.  Hyer  be- 
coming the  proprietor.  For  a  number  of  years,  it 
was  the  relay  house  for  the  old  Milwaukee,  Janesville, 


436  DANE     COUNTY    TOWNS DEERFIELD. 

Columbus  and  Madison  four-horse  stage,  where  fresh 
horses  were  exchanged  going  or  returning,  until  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  Prairie  du  Chien  Railroad 
supplied  their  more  expeditious  route.  The  supplies 
for  the  stages  were  bought  and  kept  here,  the  oats 
and  hay  being  obtained  from  the  surrounding  farm- 
ers, and  purchased  by  Mr.  Iiyer.  Many  a  jolly  load 
of  passengers  stopped  at  Ilyer's  for  refreshments,  and 
during  the  session  of  the  legislature  extra  coaches  had 
sometimes  to  be  sent  out,  which  made  lively  times  for 
the  tavern  keepers.  Mr.  Hyer  was  the  first  postmas- 
ter in  the  town,  and  held  the  office  as  long  as  he  lived 
here.  He  now  resides  in  the  town  of  Springfield,  and 
has  furnished  us  the  following  facts,  which  we  feel 
certain  are  but  as  a  drop,  compared  with  the  numer- 
ous incidents  which  he  must  have  witnessed  and 
known  when  he  was  mine  host  of  the  Relay  tavern : 

About  the  1st  of  August,  1842,  I  commenced  with  a  force  of  ten 
men  to  build  a  log  house  on  Sec.  9,  T.  7,  R.  12  E.  (now  Deerfield), 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  a  tavern  for  the  accommodation  of  trav- 
elers, who  were  daily  increasing  in  numbers,  and  within  three  weeks 
completed  a  substantial  building,  with  six  rooms.  One  night,  du- 
ring our  stay,  we  were  much  annoyed  by  wolves,  who  had  caught  a 
deer  and  devoured  it  within  a  few  rods  from  our  encampment, 
small  remains  of  which  were  found  scattered  about  in  the  morn- 
ing. At  another  time,  they  made  an  attack  on  our  cattle,  that  were 
feeding  near  by,  and  caused  a  great  commotion  among  them ;  they 
bellowed  and  ran  together,  the  same  as  they  do  when  they  smell 
the  blood  of  any  of  their  number  slain.  None  were  killed,  but  many 
of  them  showed  the  marks  of  the  teeth  and  claws  of  the  wolves. 

Soon  after  completing  my  log  house  I  removed  therein,  and  was 
appointed  postmaster,  and  the  place  was  duly  christened  "Deer- 
field."  I  built  my  stables  for  the  accommodation  of  forty  or  more 
horses,  and  made  additions  to  my  house  as  occasion  required,  until 


DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS  —  DEERFIELD.       437 

the  ground  floor  covered  a  space  of  44  by  74  feet,  and  could  conven- 
iently accommodate  forty  or  more  persons  with  lodging-;  and  a 
dancing  hall  32  by  25  ieet,  where  parties,  often  from  a  distance  of 
twenty-five  miles,  came  for  recreation. 

In  addition  to  the  mail  route  from  Milwaukee  to  Madison,  a  new 
route  was  soon  established  from  Janesville  to  Columbus,  with  two- 
horse  coaches,  via  Deerfield.  The  staging  on  the  Milwaukee  and 
Madison  hue  increased  to  two  daily  post  coaches,  and  often  two  or 
three  extras,  and  the  demand  for  oats  to  feed  teams,  purchased  and 
furnished  by  me,  amounted  to  from  5,000  to  7,000  bushels  annually 
for  five  years.  The  oats  were  all  raised  witliin  a  radius  of  ten  miles 
of  my  house.  This  much  was  accomplished  about  fifteen  years  from 
the  first  survey  through  the  wilderness. 

The  settlers  spoken  of  were  only  the  beginning  of 
more  extensive  immigration.  Lars  Torgerson  settled 
here  in  1842,  and  still  remains.  Charles  and  Martin 
Adsits  settled  in  1845,  while  Allan  E.  Adsits  and 
family  came  in  1846.  For  four  or  five  years  after  the 
first  settlement,  the  town  increased  in  population  very 
rapidly,  and  has  continued  to  do  so  up  to  the  present. 
In  1875,  when  the  census  was  taken,  the  population  in 
the  town  was  906,  the  largest  proportion  of  which 
were  of  foreign  birth,  such  as  Norwegians,  Germans 
and  Irish. 

The  only  streams  of  any  importance  are  Koshkonong 
and  Mud  creeks.  The  first  named  enters  the  town  on 
section  19,  and  flows  easterly  into  the  large  expanse 
of  water  known  as  Krogh's  Mill  Pond,  which  covers 
a  portion  of  sections  13,  14,  15,  22,  23  and  24,  leav- 
ing the  town  on  the  last  section.  The  pond  has  been 
the  source  of  litigation  between  the  mill-owner  and 
the  property  owners  on  the  edge  of  the  pond,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  large  amount  of  land  submerged.   The 


438  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DEERFIELD. 

current  is  very  slow  on  this  stream,  so  that  it  gives  no 
water-] lower  in  the  town,  though  over  the  line  in  Jef- 
ferson county  there  is  a  mill  privilege.  Mud  Creek 
enters  on  section  34,  and  empties  into  the  pond  on 
section  27. 

The  surface  of  this  town  is  gently  undulating.  A 
portion  of  Liberty  Prairie,  lying  within  the  south- 
western part,  is  included  within  its  boundaries.  The 
southeastern  part  of  the  town  is  prairie  and  openings, 
the  northwestern  part,  bare  openings;  and  the  north- 
east part,  heavy  timber,  with  more  or  less  marsh. 
This  timber  land  was  entered  by  the  early  settlers  in 
the  adjoining  towns  for  timber  lots;  but  as  it  is  now  cut 
off,  the  land  is  cleared  for  agricultural  purposes.  We 
have,  in  the  southwestern  part,  excellent  stone  quar- 
ries, both  limestone  and  sandstone. 

Some  years  ago,  there  was  a  saw-mill  built  on  sec- 
tion 20,  by  Mr.  Thompson  and  Mr.  Knudson;  but  just 
as  it  was  ready  to  run,  the  dam  broke,  and  it  was 
never  repaired,  as  the  country  being  extremely  level, 
the  damage  caused  by  overflowing  was  very  great. 

Along  these  streams  are  excellent  hay  marshes,  as 
good  as  any  in  the  county.  In  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  town,  some  of  the  marshes  will,  in  course  of 
time,  be  valuable  for  the  cultivation  of  cranberries.  In 
this  part  of  the  town  there  is  a  large  pond,  which  is 
called  "  Goose  Pond,"  from  the  great  number  of  these 
birds  frequenting  here.  Hunters  find  abundance  of 
duck  also,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  year  it  is  very  much 
patronized. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DEERFIELD.  439 

In  educational  matters,  we  have  achieved  very  satis- 
factory results.  We  have  five  good  schoolhouses, 
a  number  of  joint-districts,  and  some  private  schools. 
There  are  in  the  town  three  churches,  one  Lutheran, 
Rev.  J.  A.  Ottesen,  pastor;  one  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran, Rev.  Rasmus  O.  Hill,  pastor;  and  the  other, 
Roman  Catholic,  Rev.  Father  Maher.  Each  one  have 
regular  service  performed  by  their  respective  pastors. 

There  are  two  postofhces  in  town,  one  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Deerfield,  Henry  Bennett,  postmaster;  and  the 
other  at  Nora,  near  the  stone  church,  on  Liberty 
Prairie,  Andrew  A.  Prescott,  postmaster;  mail  tri- 
weekly. In  the  village  there  is  one  store  kept  by 
Charles  Mayer;  two  blacksmiths  shops  kept  by  H. 
Bennett  and  Mr.  Seeley;  and  a  good  hotel  kept  by 
Mr.  Benj.  Baldwin. 

For  years,  wheat  has  been  the  principal  crop  raised, 
but  of  late,  our  best  farmers  have  engaged  more  in 
wrhat  is  called  mixed  farming,  raising  of  stock,  and 
seeding  down  their  land.  In  1876,  the  acreage  of 
the  different  kinds  of  crops  was  as  follows:  Timothy 
and  clover,  227  acres;  wheat,  2,710;  oats,  1,078;  corn, 
1,015;  barley,  1,387;  rye,  91;  hops,  21;  tobacco,  30. 

The  facilities  for  marketing  our  produce  in  this 
town  are,  on  the  whole,  quite  convenient.  Marshall 
and  Waterloo  are  on  the  north,  Jefferson  and  Fort  At- 
kinson on  the  east;  S  tough  ton  and  McFarland  on  the 
south  and  west,  so  that  if  we  have  no  railroads,  we 
have  the  consolation  that  we  have  ready  access  to 
market.     The  town  has  no  bonded  indebtedness. 


440  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  CKOSS    PLAINS. 


CROSS  PLAINS. 

BY  HENRY  WINKLE,  Esq. 

The  town  of  Cross  Plains,  or  town  No.  7,  north  of 
range  No.  7  east,  is  situated  just  fifteen  miles  west 
of  Madison.  The  town  was  first  settled  in  1840,  by 
Edward,  Hugh  and  John  Campbell.  They  were  soon 
followed  by  John  W.  Thomas,  Berry  Haney,  Francis 
Wilson,  Thomas  Arland  and  Sylvester  Bell,  who  set- 
tled in  the  northern  part,  and  William  and  Samuel 
Showers,  Itipha  Warden,  Sidney  Morgan,  Jno.  II. 
Clark,  George  P.  Thompson,  William  Howry  and 
David  B.  Carden,  the  last  gentleman  still  a  resident 
of  the  town,  in  the  southern  part. 

The  organization  and  first  town  meeting  was  held 
on  the  6th  day  of  April,  1847,  and  Kipha  Warden,  Ira 
Campbell  and  Jno.  H.  Clark  were  elected  supervisors; 
Berry  Haney,  clerk;  William  Showers,  treasurer; 
William  Howry,  assessor.  Four  school  districts  were 
organized.  Shortly  afterwards  schools  were  opened 
and  teachers  supplied. 

The  town  received  its  name  from  two  military 
roads — one  from  Galena  to  Fort  Winnebago,  and 
the  other  from  Prairie  du  Chien  to  Green  Bay  — 
crossing  on  a  plain  or  piece  of  prairie  land,  about 
the  middle  of  the  town,  and  hence  the  name  "  Cross 
Plains." 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS CKOSS   PLAINS.  441 

The  town  was  a  favorite  hunting  ground  among  the 
Indians,  and  was  also  noted  as  the  residence  of  Rob- 
ert Steele,  a  hunter  and  trapper,  who,  as  the  town 
became  settled,  moved  away  to  some  other  place  more 
suited  for  his  business.  In  1845,  John  Howry  came 
from  Virginia  and  settled  on  section  19,  wThere  he  still 
continues  to  reside. 

A  great  deal  of  suffering  was  endured  among  the 
early  settlers,  especially  among  those  who  came  late 
in  the  season.  Some  were  obliged  to  hunt  for  roots 
and  herbs  to  sustain  them  until  harvest  brought  them 
their  grain,  which  they  carried  to  Madison  to  be  sold, 
or  rather  exchanged,  for  what  was  then  called  store 
goods.  Their  grists  were  taken  to  Pokerville,  in 
Iowa  county,  about  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  distant, 
and  sometimes  a  great  deal  farther,  if  they  were  un- 
fortunate in  finding  the  mill  undergoing  repair. 

The  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  railroad 
crosses  the  town  on  the  north,  and  the  Madison,  Min- 
eral Point,  or  Madison  and  Dodgeville  stage  road, 
crosses  on  the  south.  The  population  of  the  town  is 
about  1,500. 

The  northern  part  of  the  town  is  laid  out  in  three 
villages,  of  which  the  first  is  Cross  Plains.  It  was 
platted  by  the  Baer  Brothers,  who  kept  a  general  stock 
of  merchandise  suitable  for  a  country  store.  John, 
one  of  the  brothers,  is  still  doing  an  excellent  busi- 
ness. Adrian  Yirnig  has  a  grocery  and  saloon;  Engel 
Uebersetzig,  saloon  and  public  hall;  Joseph  Marx, 
blacksmith;  and  Peter  Schut,  wagon  maker.      Near- 


412  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS CROSS   PLAINS. 

ly  opposite  Jolm  Baer's  there  is  a  neat  Catliolic 
Church,  built  in  the  Gothic  style,  and  with  a  parson- 
age attached  for  the  use  of  the  pastor,  Rev.  John 
Friedl,  and  a  large  building  for  the  use  of  the  parish 
and  parochial  school,  which  is  taught  by  two  of  the 
sisters.  Toward  the  northeast  part  of  the  village 
the  Hon.  Peter  Zander,  a  wealthy  and  prosperous 
farmer,  and  our  ex  assemblyman,  of  1876,  has  his 
farm. 

The  next  village  is  Christina,  platted  in  1856,  by 
P.  L.  Mohr,  Esq.,  then  living  in  Madison,  who  had 
selected  this  spot  for  a  village,  on  account  of  the  love- 
liness of  scenery  it  presented,  and  gave  it  its  present 
name  in  honor  of  his  wife.  The  Indians,  in  early 
times,  had  their  wigwams  raised  there,  and  visited  it 
often  for  a  number  of  years  after  the  white  faces  had 
taken  possession  of  it.  The  three  story  stone  grist 
mill  at  this  village  was  built  in  1858,  by  Oscar  Mohr 
and  Dr.  Francis  Fisher,  who  also  erected  a  number  of 
dwelling  houses,  and  carried  on  a  farming  and  milling 
business  for  eight  years.  A.  Dederich  and  Charles 
Herman  kept  hotel  in  the  village  in  those  times.  Her- 
man Zinkeisen,  who  afterwards  perished  on  the  ill- 
fated  steamer  "  Schiller,"  carried  on  the  first  and 
most  extensive  general  store  and  produce  business 
in  the  village,  which  he  afterwards  sold  out  to  R. 
Pickhardt.  In  1856  the  mill  was  sold  to  A.  Kim- 
ball, who  ran  it  for  three  years,  and  then  sold  it  to 
Gustave  Hering,  who  put  in  steam  power.  Besides 
being  in  the  milling  business,  he  is  largely  engaged  in 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS CROSS    PLAINS.  413 

the  sale  of  agricultural  implements  of  every  descrip- 
tion, and  adds  to  his  extensive  business  both  energy 
and  thrift.  Herman  J.  Dahmen  is  located  on  the  op- 
posite side  from  the  mill,  and  has  a  general  stock  of 
merchandise,  with  a  saloon  attached;  then  there  is 
Cross  Plains  postoffice  and  harness  shop,  kept  and 
owned  by  F.  H.  Fredericks,  who  is  doing  a  lucrative 
business,  and  whose  handsome  princely  residence  is  a 
short  distance  from  the  store.  Next  comes  Michael 
Strieker,  hardware  store  and  lumber  yard;  Edward 
Lampman,  general  merchandise  store;  and  two  thrif- 
ty blacksmiths,  Charles  Brendler  and  Chr.  Koch,  with 
Ph.  Baerenklau,  as  wagon  maker.  There  have  recent- 
lv  been  erected  two  new  district  school  houses  two 
stories  high,  where  the  higher  and  lower  branches  of 
education  will  be  taught. 

The  next  village  is  Foxville,  platted  in  1857,  by 
Abijah  Fox,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  the  town, 
then  a  farmer,  on  whose  land  the  depot  was  located. 
Mr.  Fox  bought  and  shipped  the  first  bushel  of  wheat 
from  that  station,  in  his  block  warehouse.  Joseph 
Yirnig  and  Louis  Saemann  each  keep  a  saloon  here, 
while  the  Brendler  Hotel,  owned  and  kept  by  Mich- 
ael Brendler,  is  widely  known  among  commercial 
travelers  as  a  first  class  hotel,  and  where  mine  host, 
Michael,  seeks  to  make  his  guests  comfortable  and  at 
home.  William  Marxs  keeps  the  blacksmith  shop; 
and  Carl  Jacobi,  a  first  class  store  of  general  mer- 
chandise. 

Looking  from  the  depot  toward  the  northern  bor- 


444  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  CROSS   PLAINS. 

der  of  the  town,  in  the  vicinity  of  Black  Earth  vil- 
lage, is  a  large  rift  of  bare  rocks,  and  going  "south 
about  four  miles,  you  find  yourself  on  a  small  hill  in 
the  center  of  the  town,  on  the  farm  of  John  Laufen- 
bery,  an  old  settler  and  wealthy  farmer;  and  still  far- 
ther on  you  behold  the  valley  of  Pine  Bluff,  one  of 
the  richest  valleys  in  the  town,  about  three  miles 
square,  and  a  perfect  picture  in  beauty  of  landscape. 
It  is  called  the  "Ridge." 

Pine  Bluff  is  a  solid  ledge  of  high  rocks,  on  the  top 
of  which  grow  quite  a  number  of  fine  pine  trees,  a 
scarcity  in  this  part  of  the  country,  which  gives 
the  valley  quite  a  romantic  aspect,  and  from  which  it 
takes  its  name. 

The  Sugar  river  rises  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
of  the  town,  on  section  32,  and  passes  through  sec- 
tions 33,  34  and  35,  in  an  eastern  direction,  into  the 
town  of  Springdale,  in  the  northeast  corner.  There 
is  a  branch  or  spring  that  rises  on  section  27  and 
unites  on  section  35.  Near  where  it  enters  the  town 
of  Springdale  is  the  Mormon  Baptismal  Pond.  In 
the  early  history  of  the  town  several  Mormons  settled 
here,  and  the  whole  neighborhood  for  years  were 
kept  in  a  fevered  excitement  by  the  Sunday  carnivals 
they  often  held  George  P.  Thompson,  T.  S.  Lloyd 
and  George  Harlow  were  some  of  the  leaders  among 
them.  George  was  a  son  of  old  Isaiah  Harlow,  whose 
grave  is  in  the  beautiful  burying  ground  on  the  hill 
that  is  overshadowed  with  the  grove  of  trees,  on  Jere- 
miah Murphy's  farm,  section  31.     There  are  several 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  CROSS    PLAINS.  445 

of  this  family  buried  here,  as  seen  by  the  neat  gray 
slabs  or  headstones  that  mark  their  last  resting  place. 
These  graves  are  designated  by  some  of  the  neigh- 
bors (but  by  mistake)  as  those  of  the  Mormons.  The 
only  member  of  the  family  who  became  a  Mormon 
was  the  son  George,  but  who  afterwards  renounced 
and  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  them.  Near  this 
same  spot  is  the  grave  of  Mrs.  Odell,  whose  sudden 
and  mysterious  death  filled  the  neighborhood  with 
amazement. 

In  approaching  the  town  of  Cross  Plains  from  the 
east,  on  the  Madison  and  Mineral  Point  road,  we 
come  to  the  dividing  ridge  or  ancient  beach,  so  well 
defined  and  preserved  as  to  be  observed  by  every  stu- 
dent of  geology.  This  beach,  or  ancient  sea  shore  on 
this  road,  comes  within  ten  rods  of  the  east  line  of  the 
town  of  Cross  Plains.  On  its  summit  there  is  yet 
to  be  seen  an  old  log,  behind  which  Ebenezer  Brig- 
ham  (the  first  white  settler  of  Dane  count}')  and 
Zach.  Taylor  (ex-President  of  United  States),  slept  all 
night. 

From  the  highest  part  of  this  ridge,  on  the  Mineral 
Point  road,  we  have  one  of  the  finest  landscapes  pre- 
sented to  our  view  that  can  perhaps  be  found  any- 
where in  our  state,  taking  in  the  beautiful  valley  in 
which  the  head  waters  of  Sugar  river  rise.  This  val- 
ley is  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  the  dividing  ridge  and 
its  spurs,  except  an  opening  of  about  forty  rods  on 
the  southeast,  through  which  Sugar  river  flows. 
There  is  a  painting  now  in  the  land  office  at  "Wash- 


446  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS — CKOSS   PLAINS. 

ington,  D.  C,  taken  from  a  point  on  this  ridge  near 
where  the  Mineral  Point  -road  descends  into  the  val- 
ley, which  is  pronounced  by  good  judges  as  being  the 
finest  landscape  painting  in  that  department.  It  was 
made  by  a  celebrated  English  artist,  and  lakes  in  the 
valley  with  its  undulating  prairie,  the  surrounding 
hills,  and  the  Blue  Mounds  in  the  distance. 

Any  one  approaching  this  valley  from  the  east  dur- 
ing one  of  our  beautiful  summer  evening  sunsets,  and 
who  may  have  paused  to  view  this  landscape,  present- 
ing miles  of  the  most  gorgeous  and  grand  scenery, 
must  have  been  convinced,  as  the  English  artist  was, 
that  here  was  a  view  worthy  to  be  transferred  to  can- 
vas by  any  artist. 

Politically  the  town  is  democratic.  During  the 
late  rebellion,  on  the  first  call  for  men,  it  sent  twenty- 
two,  of  whom  Hubert  Kremer  died  in  the  hospital, 
while  most  of  the  others  served  through  the  war.  It 
furnished  its  full  quota  of  men,  so  that  no  draft  ever 
occurred  with  us. 

St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church  is  built  on  a  small  hill 
near  the  bluff,  and  attached  to  it,  is  a  parsonage 
and  the  sisters'  house.  There  is  also  a  new  district 
school,  where  John  Loehrer  keeps  store  and  saloon ; 
William  Cullen,  of  the  Pine  Bluff  tavern  and  black- 
smith shop,  and  well  known  as  a  veterinary  surgeon. 
Henry  Winkle  is  postmaster,  and  the  mail  is  distrib- 
uted about  four  times  a  week.  [Mr.  Winkle  has  filled 
the  office  of  postmaster  very  acceptably  for  over  seven 
years.     He  keeps  store  and  has  a  general  stock  of 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS CROSS    PLAINS.  417 

merchandise.  Besides  being  engaged  in  business,  he 
has  also  a  farm.] 

Mr.  James  Bonner  lives  in  the  first  house  built  in 
the  town,  and  known  as  the  old  stage  house,  and  which 
for  many  years  was  occupied  by  Edward  Campbell  as 
the  relay  house  for  the  stages  between  Madison  and 
Mineral  Point. 

The  Hon.  Matt.  M.  Anderson  is  one  of  the  leading1 
farmers  in  our  town,  owning  about  350  acres  of  the 
best  land  in  the  valley.  His  farm  is  known  by  the 
name  of  "Anderson's  Willow  Grove  Stock  Farm." 
He  is  largely  engaged  in  the  raising  of  stock,  and 
has  also  a  large  dairy,  from  which  he  manufactures  a 
very  choice  butter,  and  ships  direct  to  the  Philadel- 
phia market.  In  1871  he  was  member  of  Assembly 
for  our  district.  James  Farrell,  Richard  Farrell,  M. 
Casey,  Henry  J.  Bollig,  Jacob  Kalscheuer,  Joseph 
Wallraffj  Jeremiah  and  Ed.  Murphy  are  some  of  the 
leading  farmers  and  stock  raisers  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  town. 

The  present  town  officers  are:  Henry  J.  Bollig, 
chairman,  Jerry  Murphy  and  Joseph  Schaefer,  as 
Suj>ermsors;  Henry  "Winkle,  Clerk;  Bernard  Bollig, 
Treasurer;  J.  A.  Mueller,  Assessor. 

The  town  has  seven  substantially  built  school 
houses. 


448  BANE   COUNTY    TOWNS  —  FITOHBTJRG. 


FITCHBURG. 

BY  DR.  WILLIAM  H.  FOX  AND  WILLIAM  VKOMAN. 

Fitchburg  postoffice  and  election  precinct  were 
established  and  named  about  1841,  at  the  suggestion 
of  that  respected  and  esteemed  pioneer  patriarch,  Eben- 
ezer  Brigham,  of  Blue  Mounds.  The  precinct  in- 
cluded the  townships  of  land  that  now  constitute  the 
towns  of  Oregon,  Fitchburg,  Dunn,  and,  I  think,  Rut- 
land; the  place  for  holding  elections  and  postoffice,  at 
Win.  Quivey's,  half  a  mile  south  of  what  is  now  called 
Oak  Hall,  in  the  town  of  Fitchburg.  There  were  only- 
ten  or  twelve  voters  in  the  precinct  at  that  time,  and  no 
laid-out  road  except  the  old  territorial  road  to  Hume's 
Ferry  and  Janesville,  which  went  by  what  is  now 
ex-Governor  Washburne's  place,  and  round  the  head 
of  Lake  Wingra  or  Dead  Lake,  and  then  through 
Stoner's  Prairie  and  southeast  to  Fitchburg  postoffice, 
continuing  southeast  on  the  ridge  dividing  the  waters 
running:  to  the  Catfish  from  those  of  Sue-ar  river. 
The  old  Daniel  Baxter  road,  so  called  at  that  time,  ran 
from  the  south  part  of  Greeu  county  to  Madison 
via-  where  the  village  of  Albany  on  Sugar  river  now 
stands,  intersecting  the  former  a  little  south-east  of 
Fitchburg  postoffice,  and  the  lead  teamster's  road  from 
Mineral  Point  to  Milwaukee  intersecting  it  on  Stoner's 
Prairie,  east  of  these   roads  to   Catfish   or   Yahara 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS FITCIIBUKG.  449 

river,  and  west  to  Sugar  river.  The  country  was  then 
uninhabited.  An  Indian  trail  which  ran  from  their 
village,  at  the  head  of  lake  Kegonsa,  crossed  Sugar 
river,  where  the  village  of  Bcllville  now  stands,  and 
went  on,  I  think,  to  Prairie  du  Chien.  This  trail 
crossed  the  territorial  road  a  little  south  of  Fitch- 
burg  Postoffice,  and  was  the  principal  guide  east  to 
the  Catfish  or  west  to  Sugar  river.  Towards  that 
river  the  country  was  then  all  oak  openings,  some 
hilly,  clear  of  undergrowth,  so  that  it  was  easy  to 
drive  in  any  direction.  Towards  Catfish  the  country 
was  more  level,  small  prairies  and  oak  openings  clear 
of  underbrush,  the  land  undulating  and  mostly  a  good 
soil. 

In  the  fall  of  1842,  Geo.  Fox  and  I,  when  look- 
ing land  to  locate  on,  left  the  trail  near  where  the 
Cemetery  now  stands,  on  the  prairie  north  of  the 
present  village  of  Oregon.  We  switched  off  to  the 
north  through  the  woods,  to  see  what  we  could  find, 
and  pretty  soon  the  woods  began  to  look  all  the 
same.  We  were  lost,  and  as  the  day  wore  on  and 
we  drove  pretty  fast  we  began  to  have  a  regular 
frontier  appetite.  After  several  hours  we  brought 
up  at  a  hunters'  camp,  where  a  great  many  deer  and 
wild  duck  were  hanging  on  the  trees  close  by.  The 
hunters  were  absent,  but  we  soon  made  ourselves  at 
home,  and,  finding  a  little  bread  in  a  bag,  fried  some 
venison  steak,  and  had  a  delicious  dinner,  with  a  drink 
from  the  spring  near  at  hand.  That  spring  is  the  Mr. 
Murphy  spring,  dose  by  the  road  at  Lake  View,  and 
29 


450  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS FITCHBURG. 

only  about  two  miles  from  where  we  left  tlie  trail. 
We  got  back  to  the  prairie  by  following  the  Lake 
View  stream  on  the  south  side,  to  the  pass  through 
the  hills  where  the  railroad  now  runs,  and  soon 
made  our  way  to  the  Fitchburg  Postoffice,  which 
was  also  a  hotel,  kept  by  Win.  Quivey,  where  we  met 
the  hunters,  Messrs.  Hume  and  Postle,  from  Hume's 
Ferry,  on  Rock  river,  at  whose  camp  we  dined.  They 
invited  us  to  call  again,  and  all  had  a  good  laugh  at 
our  getting  lost  in  the  woods. 

There  were  then,  I  think,  but  Jos.  Yroman's  and 
three  other  families,  in  what  is  the  present  town  of 
Fitchburg. 

In  the  spring  of  1843,  Geo.  Fox  and  myself  com- 
menced to  break  up  and  improve  the  lands  on  which 
we  still  reside.  John  and  Geo.  Keenan  also  commen- 
ced to  improve  farms  close  by  us,  and  Messrs.  Wm. 
True,  Pritcharcl  and  Nott  purchased  lands  to  locate  on. 
That  summer,  many  eastern  people  came  out  here  view- 
ing lands.  They  liked  the  climate,  soil  and  general 
face  of  the  country;  but  thought  it  very  far  to  a  mill 
or  blacksmith  shop.  We  had  no  church  or  school, 
and  few  roads  so  they  could  not  stand  it.  Our  nearest 
mills  were  Mr.  Hickcox's,  in  Eidgeway,  Iowa  county, 
Beloit,  and  Columbus,  either  one  about  forty  miles 
distant.  The  nearest  blacksmith  shop  was  at  Mad- 
ison, a  long  road  round  the  head  of  Lake  Wingra,  and 
and  the  smith  not  always  in  a  working  mood,  so  that 
we  often  had  to  improvise  a  shop  to  sharpen  our 
breaking  plows,  by  heating  the  share  in  a  fire  made 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS FITCHBURG.  451 

of  chips,  and  beating   it  out   on  the  heads  of   iron 
wedges  driven  in  a  log. 

In  the  fall  of  1844,  Badger  Mill  was  built  by  Joseph 
Yroman,  with  his  brothers  George  and  William,  the 
first  settlers  of  Fitchburg,  and  William  A.  Wheeler, 
of  Verona.  They  gave  a  large  party  to  celebrate 
the  occasion,  and  the  people  for  many  miles  around 
assembled.  The  Scotch  settlement  on  Sugar  river 
was  largely  represented,  and  Billy  Ray  played  the 
Highland  bagpipes,  and  the  "  Highland  Fling  "  was 
danced  to  perfection  by  many  a  lad  and  lassie,  who 
are  now  grandfathers  and  grand  mothers.  The  mill 
was  a  great  convenience  to  the  surrounding  country, 
until  the  stream  dried  up  (it  has  now  been  dry  for 
several  years).  Joseph  Yroman  owned  the  first  reap- 
ing machine  used  in  the  town,  about  1847.  What 
the  early  settlers  lacked  in  many  of  the  conveniences, 
of  life,  they  made  up  in  self  reliance  and  that  kind  of 
genial  good  neighborship  that  is  usually  found  among 
the  pioneers.  They  were  hospitable,  cordial,  ready 
to  do  each  other  a  good  turn,  and  were  not  much 
troubled  with  those  kind  of  cast  iron  conventionalities 
which  take  the  heart  out  of  social  intercourse.  They 
had  few  elements  of  discord  among  them;  no  pimps; 
no  winners;  and  had  not  the  fostering  care  of  that 
self-sacrificing  class  of  people,  whose  principal  occu- 
pation is  attending  to  other  people's  business,  and  re- 
penting for  other  people's  sins.  In  the  summer  and  fall 
of  '44-5,  settlers  began  to  come  in  and  buy  up  lands 
pretty  fast.     Some  were  very  poor  and  could  not  buy, 


452  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  FITCIIBUKG. 

but  would  claim  or  "  squat,"  as  we  called  it,  on  a 
piece  of  land,  and  the  earlier  settlers  to  a  man  stood 
up  for  those  poor  fellows  to  protect  them  in  their 
claims,  and  keep  new  comers  from  buying  the  lands, 
or  "jumping  their  claims,"  as  it  was  called.  The 
Fitchburg  Mutual  Protection  Society  was  organized 
for  that  purpose;  had  a  regular  book  for  each  claimer 
to  come  and  register  his  claim  in,  and  any  person 
jumping  such  claim  would  be  called  to  account  by  the 
society,  which,  in  this  neighborhood,  always  resulted 
in  having  the  land  restored  to  the  first  claimant.  Some 
of  our  most  thrifty,  honest  and  respected  citizens  got 
their  present  homes  in  that  way. 

Deer  were  still  very  plenty  here  in  fall  of  '44.  One 
of  our  neighbors  had  a  dog  that  caught  a  large  buck 
by  the  hind  leg,  and  by  some  means  worried  him  to- 
wards the  house;  the  woman  of  the  house,  on  seeing 
the  deer  approach,  sallied  out  with  an  axe  and  suc- 
ceeded in  dispatching  him.  Joseph  Fox,  now  of  Ore- 
gon, happening  to  be  pass  by  at  the  time,  assisted  the 
woman  in  taking  care  of  the  carcass.  That  same  fall 
there  were  a  great  many  bears  prowling  about. 

Mrs.  Geo.  Keenan  was  spending  the  day  at  Geo. 
Fox's;  in  the  afternoon  she  started  for  home,  about 
one  and  a  half  miles  distant,  carrying  an  infant  in  her 
arms;  about  half  a  mile  from  her  house  she  met  a  full 
grown  bear  on  the  path.  She  would  not  turn  out  of 
the  path  into  the  tall  prairie  grass,  lest  she 
might  trip  and  fall;  neither  would  the  bear  turn  out, 
but  raised  himself  up  for  the  usual  mode  of  saluta- 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS FITCHBUKG.  453 

tion,  and  as  they  met,  placed  his  paws  over  Mrs.  K.'s 
neck.  Mustering  all  possible  strength,  she  held  the 
baby  tight  with  her  left  arm,  with  her  right  dealt 
the  bear  a  blow  on  the  side  of  the  head,  and  spring- 
ing back  at  the  same  time,  got  clear  from  him;  she 
then  took  off  her  sun  bonnet  and  flung  it  on  the  path, 
which  he  stopped  to  smell  and  shake  in  his  mouth, 
and  thus  enabled  her  to  get  some  distance  ahead.  But 
soon  the  bear  caught  np  again  and  raised  for  a  charge. 
Mrs.  K.  turned  and  faced  him,  when  with  an  angry 
growl  he  caught  her,  and  put  one  paw  on  the  baby, 
causing  it  to  cry.  She  struck  him  as  before,  and 
sprang  back,  pulling  the  baby,  while  the  bear  also 
pulled,  tearing  off  its  cloak,  and  then  began  shaking 
it  in  his  mouth,  while  Mrs.  K.  again  ran  for  the 
house,  which  she  gained  just  in  time  to  save  another 
attack.  The  next  morning  the  neighborhood  turned 
out  to  hunt  for  the  bear;  did  not  find  the  old  one, 
but  found  two  cubs  in  a  thicket  not  far  from  the 
house. 

The  Fitchburg  election  precinct  was  merged  in  the 
organization  of  the  town  of  Rome,  A.  D.  1345  or  6, 
which  included  the  present  towns  of  Oregon,  Dunn 
and  Fitchburg,  and  was  named  Rome  by  some  of  the 
settlers  from  New  York  state.  A  road  having  been 
laid  out  from  Rooney's  on  the  old  territorial  road, 
running  north  to  Madison,  also  one  from  near  Rock 
county  line  running  northwest  to  Fitchburg  Post- 
office,  these  roads  crossed  where  the  present  village  of 
Oregon  now  stands,  and  it  being  not  far  from  the 


454  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS FITCHBUKG. 

corners  of  said  towns,  it  was  called  Rome  Corners, 
and  is  jet  known  by  that  name. 

The  town  managed  its  own  local  affairs;  three  com- 
missioners the  county  business.  At  that  time  the 
settlers  were  mostly  unacquainted  with  the  luxury  of 
a  county  training  school  for  legislative  aspirants  and 
other  tax-eating  systems;  consequently  their  taxes 
were  light  — about  $1,600  in  the  town  of  Rome  for  all 
purposes  —  although  roads  had  to  be  laid  out  and 
bridges  and  court  house  had  to  be  built.  I  was  the 
first  treasurer  of  the  town,  and  as  both  myself  and  the 
town  supervisors  were  a  little  muddy  on  the  law,  I 
concluded  to  strike  out  of  my  bond  the  word  "law" 
and  insert  "justice,"  according  to  the  best  of  my 
judgment.  The  supervisors  did  not  like  to  accept 
that  bond,  but  one  of  them,  Mr.  Boise,  father  of 
the  present  Mr.  Reuben,  of  Oregon,  said  although 
it  was  a  sort  of  a  Hibernian  pioneer  bond,  yet  he 
thought  it  would  be  all  right,  and  they  finally  ac- 
cepted it.  At  that  time  it  was  the  duty  of  town 
school  supervisors  to  meet  on  a  certain  Tuesday  in 
April  to  apportion  the  school  money  to  the  several 
districts.  The}?-  met  on  the  wrong  day  and  concluded 
they  could  not  legally  apportion  the  money.  Several 
young  ladies  had  taught  school  and  they  wanted  their 
pay.  The  money  was  in  the  treasury,  but  there  seemed 
to  be  no  legal  way  to  get  it  out;  then  the  bond  came 
to  the  relief  of  the  girls.  I  suggested  that  if  any 
school  trustee  would  state  in  writing  that  the  girls 
had  taught  school  and  were  justly  entitled  to  their 


DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  FITCHBURG.  455 

jjay,  that  I  would  pay  them  on  receipt  of  such  state- 
ment. It  was  procured,  and  the  girls  were  paid,  to 
their  great  joy  and  satisfaction. 

About  that  time  an  amusing  incident  occurred, 
showing  the  vague  and  erroneous  ideas  which  pre- 
vailed to  some  extent  in  the  eastern  states  regarding; 
the  western  frontiersmen.  A  man  from  Massachu- 
setts came  out  to  see  the  country  and  some  land  in 
this  town  that  he  had  bought  without  previously  see- 
ing, lie  came  to  my  house  to  pay  some  tax  due  on 
his  land,  and  asked  to  see  my  books  to  learn  the 
amount.  I  took  from  a  bureau  drawer  a  large  shot 
bag  containing  the  town  money  and  papers,  untied 
the  string  and  took  out  a  copy  of  the  tax  list.  With 
an  astonished  look  he  asked  if  that  was  the  only 
book,  and  if  I  was  in  truth  the  town  treasurer.  I 
replied  that  the  settlers  were  mostly  poor  and  did 
not  care  to  buy  anything  that  they  could  just  as 
well  do  without,  and  showed  him  how  I  kept  the 
account.  I  put  the  whole  amount  of  money  received 
into  the  bag,  and  when  it  was  paid  out  I  put  the 
voucher  into  the  bag,  so  the  account  always  balanced. 
He  appeared  confused  and  frightened ;  said  it  might 
be  all  right,  but  he  never  saw  business  done  in  that 
way;  would  prefer  to  go  to  Madison  before  paying 
his  taxes.  My  house  was.  a  log  one,  and  located 
in  the  woods,  in  a  lonely  place,  and  he  evidently 
thought  that  he  had  got  into  a  trap,  for  after  leaving 
my  house  he  tried  to  hire  an  escort  to  Madison  for 
fear  of  being  followed  and  robbed.     At  Madison   he 


y 


456  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS FITCHBURG. 

found  it  was  all  right,  then  returned  and  paid  his 
tax. 

In  1847  or  8,  the  town  of  Rome  was  divided,  and 
the  present  town  of  Fitchburg  organized  as  the  town 
of  Greenfield,  which  name  collided  with  Greenfield  in 
Milwaukee  county,  and  caused  some  mistakes  in  mail 
matters,  so  it  was  proposed  to  change  the  name  of 
Greenfield,  in  Dane  county,  to  Fitchburg,  the  name 
of  the  post-office,  and  which  it  still  retains.  The  first 
town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  William 
Quivey,  near  Fitchburg  Corners. 

There  are  nine  district  schools  in  town,  and  two 
churches.  The  one  on  section  35  is  Roman  Catholic, 
Rev.  Father  Butler,  j>astor;  the  other,  on  Syene  Pra- 
irie, Methodist  Episcopal. 

FITCHBUKG  BY    WILLIAM    VKOMAN. 

Town  6,  range  9,  town  of  Fitchburg,  is  situated  in 
the  central  and  southern  part  of  Dane  county,  bound- 
ed north  by  the  town  of  Madison,  west  by  the  town 
of  Verona,  south  by  the  town  of  Oregon,  and  east  by 
the  town  of  Dunn.  It  is  one  of  the  best  agricultural 
towns  in  the  county,  with  very  little  or  no  waste 
lands,  about  equally  divided  between  prairie  and  oak 
openings.  The  soil  is  very  rich  and  climate  healthy. 
There  are  several  creeks  and  springs,  of  which  the 
Nine  Springs,  situated  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
town,  are  justly  celebrated.  In  a  distance  of  some 
sixty  rods,  nine  springs  start  out  of  the  highlands  on 
the  edge  of   the   marsh,    and   form   a   creek   which 


DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  FITCHBUEG.  457 

empties  into  Third  lake,  giving  sufficient  water  to 
carry  a  mill.  Upon  this  site  the  State  Fish  Hatchery 
House  is  now  located,  and  a  splendid  location  it  is 
for  the  purpose  designed,  having  plenty  of  pure 
spring  water,  and  a  fall  of  some  fifteen  or  twenty  feet 
to  the  marsh,  and  no  danger  from  overflow  or  freshets. 
It  seems  designed  by  nature  for  the  purpose  now  used. 
The  state  has  erected  elegant  buildings,  and  the  insti- 
tution is  in  successful  operation. 

In  1837  the  first  farm  was  opened  in  the  town  by 
John  Stoner,  on  section  17.  Stoner's  Prairie  was 
named  after  him.  He  never  lived  upon  the  farm,  but 
resided  in  the  then  village  of  Madison,  lie  went  out 
to  the  farm  on  Monday  mornings  and  took  his  rations 
with  him  for  the  week.  He  erected  a  shanty,  open 
on  three  sides,  covered  with  oak  shakes,  which  turned 
most  of  the  rain ;  a  fire  in  front  on  the  ground  for 
cooking  purposes;  a  bundle  of  straw  and  blankets;  a 
few  camp  stools,  constituted  the  furniture  in  this  cabin, 
in  which  he  managed  to  keep  open  house.  Many  a 
weary  traveler  and  visitor  has  partaken  of  his  hospi- 
tality, and  many  a  night  has  the  writer  of  this  slept 
with  him  in  this  improvised  house,  open  upon  three 
sides,  and  nothing- but  the  broad  canopy  of  shakes. 

The  first  settlers  in  the  town  were  George  Yroman, 
Joseph  Yroman  and  William  Yroman,  in  1839.  They 
opened  a  farm  on  sections  17  and  20,  south  of  and 
adjoining  the  Stoner  farm,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year 
built  a  log  house  and  moved  there.  This  was  the 
first  house  built  between  Madison  and  New  Mexico, 


458  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  FITCHBURG. 

now  Monroe.  They  were  quickly  followed  by  Dr, 
William  11.  Fox,  George  Fox,  Joseph  Fox,  James  Fox, 
Rev.  Matthew  Fox,  and  the  Itev.  Win.  Fox,  their 
father,  (from  County  Westmeatte,  Ireland),  William 
Quivey,  Willam  True,    George   and   John   Keenan, 

P.  Pritchard,    Postle,  Frank  Nott,    the    Salis- 

burys,  Charles  and  John  Watkins.  These  were 
the  pioneers  of  the  town  of  Fitchburg;  good,  gene- 
rous, true  hearted  men,  just  the  men  to  open  up  a 
new  country;  men  that  you  could  tie  to;  that  believed 
in  the  golden  rule;  men  of  whom  you  never  asked  a 
favor  in  vain;  you  were  welcome  to  their  homes,  and 
their  latch  strings  always  hung  out. 

The  times  were  hard,  the  people  were  poor,  and  they 
voted  to  pay  their  officers  fifty  cents  per  day.  The 
writer  of  this  [Wm.  Yroman,  Esq.]  was  elected  road 
commissioner  (an  office  now  consolidated  with  the  su- 
pervisor), and  has  now  a  realizing  sense  of  the  labor  per- 
formed fur  the  money  received.  Three  towns  to  travel 
over,  to  lay  out  into  road  districts,  appoint  path  mas- 
ters, make  out  warrants,  and  lay  out  roads.  I  spent 
twenty  days  in  the  service  of  the  town,  for  which  I 
brought  in  a  bill  of  seven  dollars,  and  the  town  board 
cut  me  down  to  four  dollars.  Four  dollars  for  twenty 
days'  work!  Well,  the  people  were  poor,  and  they  said 
we  must  take  turns  in  holding  office.  If  the  politi- 
cians of  the  present  day  were  paid  as  liberally,  they 
would  not  be  as  anxious  for  office.  The  next  year  the 
town  was  separately  organized  as  the  town  of  Green- 
field, so  named  on  account  of  its  green  grasses  and 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  ITTCIIBUEG.  459 

fields.  It  retained  this  name  for  two  or  three  years, 
when  it  was  found  that  there  was  a  town  in  Milwaukee 
county  of  the  same  name,  which  had  prior  claim  to 
the  name,  and  as  two  towns  of  the  same  name  in  the 
state  made  some  confusion  in  postal  matters,  the  name 
was  altered  to  Fitchburg.  Our  nearest  grist  mill,  in 
1839,  was  at  Hickox,  on  Wisconsin  river,  now  Helena, 
some  thirty  miles  distant.  But  mills  soon  sprung  up 
all  around  us,  so  that  at  Fulton,  Rock  county,  Cook- 
ville,  Dayton  and  Badger  Mills,  four  miles  west  of 
us  in  Verona,  we  had  them  somewhat  nearer.  The 
commerce  of  the  country  at  this  early  day  was  mostly 
carried  on  by  Sucker  team,  a  large  Pennsylvania  wagon 
with  from  four  to  six  yoke  of  oxen  to  haul  it.  We 
called  them  prairie  schooners,  and  they  used  to  go  in 
fleets,  sometimes  as  manv  as  eight  or  ten  wagons  to- 
gether.  These  covered  wagons  going  over  the  prairie 
at  a  distance,  resembled  very  much  a  fleet  of  schooners, 
hence  the  name.  Their  principal  loading  on  the  jour- 
ney to  Lake  Michigan  was  lead,  and  the  back  freight 
sundry  goods  for  our  merchants.  They  carried  with 
them  long  goad  poles,  some  ten  feet  long,  and  a 
lash  to  correspond;  you  could  hear  the  crack  of  their 
whip  for  a  mile  away.  They  were  the  kings  of  the 
roads.  Everything  had  to  give  way  for  them,  until 
stage  coaches  were  put  upon  the  road,  when  the  driv- 
ers got  long  stretches  with  knives  in  the  end,  and 
raked  their  teams,  sending  them  bellowing  from  the 
road,  which  caused  them  to  give  the  stage  coaches  a 
wide  berth. 


460  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  FITCHBURG. 

In  those  early  days,  before  the  preemption  laws 
were  passed,  the  settlers  formed  claim  clubs  for  the 
protection  of  those  that  were  not  able  to  enter  their 
lands.  In  the  fall  of  184-1,  I  attended  a  meeting  of 
one  of  their  clubs,  near  where  George  Fox  now  lives. 
The  circumstances  were  as  follows:  Two  men  claimed 
the  same  forty  of  land,  one  belonged  to  the  club  while 
the  other  did  not;  the  man  that  did  not  belong  to  the 
club  having  obtained  the  money  first,  entered  the  land. 
A  committee  of  the  club  waited  upon  him  and  in- 
sisted on  his  deeding  the  land  over  to  the  first  claim- 
ant; refusing  to  do  so,  they  then  called  a  meeting  of 
the  club,  and  notified  him  that  they  would  meet  at  his 
house  on  a  certain  night,  and  use  such  persuasive 
arguments  as  would  induce  him  to  deed  over  the  land. 
He  remained  stubborn,  so  the  club  met  at  his  house 
in  the  evening,  some  fifty  strong,  with  axes  and  guns. 
They  surrounded  his  house  in  a  rather  noisy  manner, 
and  a  committee,  sufficient  to  fill  his  house,  entered 
with  a  justice  of  the  peace,  the  money,  deed  and  all 
made  out;  he  finally  came  down  gracefully,  by  sign- 
ing the  deed,  and  taking  the  money,  and  then  ac- 
knowledging that  he  signed  the  deed  of  his  own  free 
will  and  accord,  without  fear,  favor,  or  intimidation, 
although  surrounded  by  some  fifty  noisy  men,  threat- 
ening all  manner  of  things.  I  do  not  think  the  deed 
was  worth  much,  but  it  was  never  contested,  and  I 
think  in  the  end  justice  was  done.  Some  societies 
were  organized  on  the  princij^le  of  letting  those  that 
came  in  and  entered  claims,  severely  alone,  agreeing  to 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS — FIPCHBURG.  461 

neither  borrow,  lend,  or  associate  with,  them,  which 
soon  brought  them  to  terms. 

I  think  that  Dr.  Wm.  II.  Fox  was  the  first  practic- 
ing physician  in  Dane  county  outside  of  Madison, 
and  had  a  most  extensive  practice  of  thirty  or  forty 
miles  ride,  which  was  done  on  horseback.  I  have 
heard  him  say  that  he  has  ridden  many  a  rainy  day, 
until  his  boots  were  filled  with  water.  He  was  ready 
at  all  times  to  render  assistance,  either  as  doctor  or 
friend,  and  one  of  our  most  A'aluable  citizens. 

Some  of  the  early  settlers  came  into  the  county  in 
large  wagons  drawn  by  oxen.  The  wagons  were 
covered,  and  whole  families  with  their  household 
goods  would  travel  in  this  way  until  they  located. 
They  had  a  long  rope  attached  to  the  oxen,  and  their 
stock  tied  on  each  side  of  the  rope,  with  a  yoke  of 
cattle  or  horses  hitched  to  the  end  of  the  roj)e  to 
keep  them  straight.  There  were  also  what  we  called 
emigrants  who  came  by  land.  Others  would  come  in 
wagons,  move  upon  their  land,  turn  their  wagon- 
box  upside  down,  and  sleep  under  it;  while  others 
would  set  boards  around  a  tree  and  move  in  and 
cook  their  meals  outside  in  true  camping  style,  and 
live  in  this  way  with  no  rent  or  hotel  bills  to  j)ay, 
until  they  could  build  their  log  houses.  Others 
would  join  in  with  their  friends  until  they  could 
make  provision  for  themselves.  Log  houses  were 
very  elastic  in  those  days  —  they  were  like  an  omni- 
bus, never  full,  but  always  room  for  one  more. 

The  settlers  in  these  early  times  were  very  friendly 


462  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  FITCHEURG-. 

helping  each  other  in  all  things  requiring  assistance, 
and  would  go  almost  any  distance  to  help.  I  recol- 
lect being  at  the  raising  of  a  large  barn,  in  1839,  in 
the  town  of  Cross  Plains,  on  what  was  known  as  the 
Campbell  Farm,  near  where  Mr.  Anderson  now 
resides.  I  think  it  was  the  first  frame  barn  raised 
on  a  farm  in  Dane  county.  It  was  a  large  barn  and 
required  a  good  many  men  to  help  in  raising  it. 
They  came  from  a  distance  of  twenty-five  or  thirty 
miles  around,  from  Madison,  Sauk,  Blue  Mounds,  and 
Ridgeway,  Iowa  county,  and  a  right  jolly  set  of  men 
they  were,  when  they  got  together  on  such  an  occasion. 
There  were  but  very  few  settlers  then.  I  think 
there  were  only  six  farms  opened  in  Dane  county  at 
this  time.  In  the  fall  of  1839,  there  was  an  election 
held  in  the  county,  for  county  officers,  and  only 
about  eighty  votes  polled,  which  also  included  Sauk 
county.  I  remember  attending  a  Fourth  of  July 
celebration,  in  1845,  in  the  Scotch  settlement  in  the 
town  of  Verona;  the  attendance  was  from  the  towns 
around.  The  programme  was  for  fun  generally,  and 
we  had  it.  Rifle  shooting  for  sheep,  home-made 
Scotch  whisky  and  beer,  playing  base  ball,  dancing 
the  "  Highland  fling"  on  the  green,  with  Billy  Ray 
and  his  bagpipes  for  music.  We  had  more  real  en- 
joyment than  can  be  had  at  any  celebration  at  the 
present  day.  But  as  the  mixing  of  Scotch  whisky 
and  beer  did  not  agree  with  all,  some  went  home 
wTith  a  brick  in  their  hat. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DANE.  463 


DANE. 

BY   ROBERT  STEELE  AND  MANSFIELD  ARRIES. 

The  town  of  Dane  is  situated  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  Dane  county,  being  town  jS~o.  9  north,  range 
No.  8  east. 

The  town  of  Dane  derived  its  name  from  the  old 
Dane  postoffice. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  quite  rolling,  and  in  a 
few  places  there  are  precipitous  bluffs.  When  in  its 
natural  state,  the  town  was  about  equally  divided  be- 
tween prairie  and  timber  land,  the  principal  part  of 
the  prairie  being  in  the  eastern  and  the  timber  in  the 
western.  The  greater  part  of  the  town  is  quite  des- 
titute of  water.  The  only  stream  of  water  has  its 
source  on  section  eight,  and  running  in  a  northeast- 
erly direction,  crosses  the  county  line  near  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  four,  being  the  stream  on  which 
the  Lodi  Mills  are  situated.  In  some  respects  this 
is  a  remarkable  stream,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  any  oth- 
er stream  in  the  county  can  equal  it.  Its  principal 
source  is  what  is  known  as  the  "  big  spring,"  and  this 
alone  furnishes  fully  one-half  of  the  water  that  drives 
Mr.  Andrews'  mill  at  Lodi,  only  three  miles  distant, 
the  stream  being  fed  entirely  by  springs,  from  which 
it  derives  its  name,  "  Spring  Creek,"  and  is  not  affec- 
ted by  the  severest  drought,  but  furnishes  a  uniform 


464         DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS DANE. 

supply  of  water  the  year  round.  The  bottom  lauds 
along  tliis  stream  are  of  the  best  quality  for  growing 
various  kinds  of  grasses,  very  little  being  marshy  or 
too  wet  to  be  drained  with  trifling  expense,  and  thus 
be  made  the  best  meadow  land  in  the  state.  These 
bottom  lands  along  this  creek  and  a  small  portion  of 
sections  34  and  35  are  the  only  wet  lands  in  the  town. 
The  scarcity  of  water  and  the  great  depth  at  which 
wells  had  to  be  sunk,  was  a  drawback  to  the  early  set- 
tlement of  the  town.  Many  of  the  wells  are  from 
one  to  two  hundred  feet  deep,  and  dug  through  a  hard 
sandstone  rock,  but  the  method  of  drilling,  and  the 
use  of  windmills  have  almost  entirely  overcome  what 
at  one  time  seemed  to  be  an  insurmountable  difficul- 
ty. Now  almost  every  farmer  has  an  abundant 
supply  of  pure  cold  water,  which  is  brought  to  the 
surface  with  but  little  expense. 

The  quality  of  the  soil  is  of  the  very  best  for  agri- 
cultural purposes,  being  a  dark  brown  loam,  from  two 
to  twelve  feet  in  depth.  In  the  timbered  jiortion  of  the 
town  the  soil  is  a  heavy  clay  loam,  and  very  produc- 
tive. About  seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  land  is 
now  under  cultivation.  The  remaining  twenty-five 
is  the  rough  or  hilly  portion  of  the  town,  which 
is  covered  with  a  dense  second  growth  of  tim- 
ber, that,  if  not  wantonly  destroyed,  will  furnish  an 
abundant  supply  of  timber  for  the  future.  These 
rough  and  bluffy  lands  present  to  the  casual  observer 
an  aspect  not  the  most  pleasing,  and  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted they  are  a  drawback  to  the  town,  yet  they  are 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS DANE.  465 

not  an  entire  waste,  for  had  they  all  been  tillable  they 
would  doubtless  have  all  been  brought  under  cultiva- 
tion, and  left  the  town  destitute  of  timber,  and  per- 
haps made  water  scarcer  than  heretofore.  There  is 
another  advantage  derived  from  them,  that  is  the 
abundance  of  limestone  they  contain.  A  good  quarry 
can  be  found  on  almost  any  section  in  the  town  con- 
taining an  inexhaustable  quantity  of  stone  of  the  very 
best  quality  for  building  purposes. 

"Wheat  was  the  staple  product  of  the  town  for  the 
first  twenty  years,  covering  a  period  of  time  from 
1850  to  1870.  During  this  time  there  were  but  few 
failures  of  the  crop,  and  all  that  was  requried  of  the 
husbandman  was  to  break  up  the  virgin  soil,  sow  the 
seed,  and  a  bountiful  harvest  was  insured.  For  seven 
or  eight  years  this  crop  has  been  less  cultivated,  and 
it  is  doubtful  if  the  wheat  crop  of  the  town  for  three 
years  back  has  paid  expenses.  As  the  continual  drop- 
ing  wears  the  rock,  so  the  continual  cropping  of  wheat 
has  so  exhausted  the  soil,  or  those  properties  of  it  which 
are  necessary  to  its  growth,  that  a  paying  crop  was 
very  uncertain.  The  system  of  farming  has  under- 
gone a  great  change  in  the  last  few  years,  mixed  hus- 
bandry being  adopted  by  nearly  all.  The  raising  of 
stock  and  the  dairy  products  are  the  leading  features 
of  farming  at  the  present  time,  and  promise  to  be 
very  successful.  The  soil  is  well  adapted  to  the 
growth  of  clover  and  other  grasses,  never  failing  to 
produce  a  bountiful  crop,  except  in  cases  of  severe 
drouths.  Corn,  oats  and  barley  produce  good  crops 
30 


4:66  DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS DANK. 

under  ordinary  circumstances.  A  large  portion  of 
the  grain  is  fed  out  on  the  farm,  and  the  farmers  are 
beginning  to  realize  that  by  keeping  stock  their  lands 
are  rapidly  increasing  in  the  productiveness  of  such 
crops  as  are  required  for  stock  raisers,  and  which,  du- 
ring the  past  eight  years  have  done  much  toward  the 
improvement  of  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep. 

A  cheese  factory  has  been  in  successful  operation 
at  Dane  station,  for  three  years,  manufacturing  the 
milk  of  250  cows,  and  averaging  65,000  to  70,000 
pounds  of  cheese  annually.  There  is  also  another, 
more  recently  started,  adjoining  the  Win.  T.  Leitch 
farm,  by  George  R.  Hoisington,  which  is  being  very 
favorably  patronized. 

Fruit  has  received  considerable  attention,  but  not 
with  the  most  flattering  results.  A  few  of  the  hardy 
varieties  do  well  and  pay  for  cultivation.  Small  fruits 
are  cultivated  to  some  extent,  and  with  a  fair  degree 
of  success,  doing  much  better  than  the  apple  or  pear. 

It  is  always  interesting  to  recall  the  scenes  of  early 
life,  although  it  may  have  been  one  of  toil,  privation 
and  hardship.  We  like  to  think  of  the  past  and  talk  of 
the  thrilling  events  connected  with  it.  The  old  sol- 
dier likes  to  dwell  on  the  past,  and  repeat  the  incidents 
connected  with  his  life,  while  the  sailor  loves  to 
recall  the  perils  of  the  deep.  But  in  no  department 
of  life  can  we  find  anything  of  more  interest  than  we 
find  in  the  pioneers  of  our  country.  We  like  to  see 
the  man  that  built  the  first  cabin  in  any  town,  county 
or  state;  that  struck  the  first  blow  in  opening  up  our 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS DANE.  407 

country  to  civilization;  that  took  the  first  step  in  the 
organization  of  civil  government. 

This  honor  must  be  accredited  to  Freedom  Simons, 
the  first  settler  of  the  town  of  Dane.  He,  with  his 
family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  children,  immigrat- 
ed from  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  landing  in  Milwaukee 
on  the  6th  day  of  September,  1842.  To  give  the 
reader  something  of  an  idea  of  the  privations  and 
hardships  which  the  early  settlers  endured,  we  will 
give  a  few  incidents  in  the  life  of  this  pioneer  family. 

Arriving  at  Milwaukee  on  board  a  steamer  which 
came  to  anchor  at  a  considerable  distance  from  shore 
(there  being  no  docks  or  piers),  they  were  taken  on 
board  a  lighter  and  landed  safely  where  the  city  of 
Milwaukee  now  stands.  One  small  warehouse  accom- 
modated all  the  freight  business  of  the  state  at  that 
point.  After  landing,  Mr.  Simons  set  to  work  to  find 
means  of  conveyance  from  Milwaukee  to  Prairie  du 
Sac,  the  place  of  his  destination.  At  that  time  there 
were  no  public  means  of  conveyance;  no  horse  teams 
to  be  had,  so  he  chartered  Avhat  was  known  in  those 
days  as  a  "Sucker  team,"  which  consisted  of  five  yoke 
of  oxen.  After  six  days  travel,  he  reached  the  place 
of  his  destination. 

In  the  spring  of  1843,  he  settled  in  what  is  now  the 
town  of  Springfield,  near  where  Hyer's  hotel  stands, 
which  was  the  only  house  between  Fourth  lake  and 
Prairie  du  Sac,  and  took  part  in  the  organization  of 
the  voting  precinct,  consisting  of  all  the  territory  be- 
tween Fourth  lake  and  the  Wisconsin  river.     At  the 


468  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  DANE. 

first  election  seven  votes  were  polled,  and  Mr.  Simons 
elected  justice  of  the  peace;  lie  also  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  post  master,  and  the  office  was  named 
Dane,  after  Dane  county,  through  the  influence  of  Mr. 
John  Catlin  of  Madison. 

In  1845,  he  moved  and  settled  on  section  32,  in  the 
town  of  Dane.  Mr.  Simons  was  not  only  the  first  set- 
tler in  the  town,  but  one  of  the  pioneers  of  western 
Dane  countv. 

In  November,  Mrs.  Simons  gave  birth  to  a  son, 
the  first  white  child  born  in  the  town.  He  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Minnesota,  bearing  the  name  of  his  grand- 
father, Sardis  Dudley. 

Mr.  Simons  took  part  in  the  organization  of  the 
town  of  Dane,  and  was  elected  to  the  office  of  assessor. 
He  is  a  man  of  great  energy  and  force  of  character, 
never  neutral  on  any  question,  and  always  taking  an 
active  part  in  town  affairs.  He  is  now  living  in  the 
village  of  Lodi,  enjoying  a  green  old  age. 

In  the  autumn  of  1845,  Patrick  Malone  settled  in 
the  town  and  engaged  in  farming  and  lumbering.  He 
died  of  cholera  in  September,  1850. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1846,  Mr.  Joshua  E.  Abbott 
settled  on  section  6.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Wisconsin,  a  native  of  Canada,  and  came  to  Wisconsin 
in  1836.  He  was  married  at  Mineral  Point  in  1840, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Skinner. 

The  tide  of  immigration  having  fairly  set  in,  Gr.  O. 
Babcock  and  J.  R.  Waterbury,  from  St.  Lawrence  Co., 
K.  Y.,  and  what  was  known  as  the  Ohio  settlement, 


DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  DANE.  469 

from  Ohio,  came  in  during  the  summer.  This  was  a 
valuable  acquisition  to  the  town,  and  it  is  seldom  that 
a  settlement  is  made  up  of  men  and  women  as  well 
qualified  for  pioneer  life;  all,  men  of  a  high  moral 
character,  and  in  possession  of  a  liberal  education. 
They  wielded  a  powerful  influence  in  shaping  the 
moral  sentiment  of  the  community.  Prominent 
among  them  were  Dr.  Eben  Blachly,  his  brother  Bell, 
A.  J.  Luce,  "Win.  Dunlap  and  Samuel  Bell. 

In  this  settlement  the  first  school  district  was  or- 
ganized, and  the  first  school  house  in  the  town  was 
built  in  1S47;  Miss  Sarah  Blachly  teaching  the  first 
term.  Miss  Blachly  was  married  to  Bev.  Dr.  Bradley, 
of  Siain,  in  the  fall  of  1848  (the  first  couple  married 
in  the  town),  and  immediately  left  for  their  distant 
field  of  labor,  and  a^e  still  engaged  in  missionary 
work.  A  Congregational  church  was  organized  in 
1848,  with  Rev.  Mr.  Blachly  as  pastor. 

The  sketch  of  this  settlement  would  be  incomplete 
if  particular  mention  was  not  made  of  Mr.  Luce. 
He  was  a  man  of  strong  convictions,  a  fine  public 
speaker  and  an  admirable  debater.  He  was  an  active 
politician,  thoroughly  devoted  to  the  cause  of  free- 
dom. Many  of  the  politicians  of  Dane  county  will 
remember  him  from  the  heavy  blows  they  received  at 
his  hands  in  the  discussion  of  some  of  the  issues  of 
the  day.     He  died  in  the  spring  of  1863. 

Among  the  early  settlers  were  Mr.  Otto  and  Peter 
Bapp  and  family.  In  the  summer  of  1848  a  large 
number  of  settlers  came  in,  among  whom  were  the 


470  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DANE. 

Steeles,  Riddles  and  Strangeway.  A  large  majority 
of  the  early  settlers  were  from  New  York  and  Ohio, 
and  of  the  best  class  of  society. 

The  following,  taken  from  the  records  of  the  town, 
will  show  the  steady  increase  of  the  voting  popula- 
tion, and  the  men  elected  to  the  respective  town 
offices : 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
William  Dunlap  on  the  4th  day  of  April,  1848. 
George  O.  Babcock  was  elected  moderator,  and  Bell 
Blachly  and  Josiah  Fitch,  inspectors.  D.  C.  Miller 
was  elected  chairman,  Alfred  Newman  and  J.  II. 
Waterbury,  supervisors.  Alfred  Newman,  town  clerk. 
Nathaniel  Martin,  John  Miller  and  W.  G.  Winters, 
school  commissioners.  Sperry  Tinker,  treasurer  and 
collector.  John  Miller,  Freedom  Simons  and  Nathan 
Martin,  justices  of  the  peace.  At  this  time  there 
were  twenty-seven  votes  in  the  town;  in  18G0,  two 
hundred;  while  in  1876  there  were  two  hundred  and 
eighty. 

It  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  notice  some  of  the 
privations  and  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life.  A 
large  majority  of  the  early  settlers  were  men  of  lim- 
ited means;  all  were  engaged  in  opening  new  farms; 
houses  of  the  rudest  bearing  were  built  to  shelter  them 
from  the  pelting  storms  and  the  biting  frosts.;  fire 
places  in  one  end  of  the  cabin  and  the  old  tin  oven 
answered  for  all  the  purposes  of  stoves.  Economy  of 
the  strictest  sort  was  practiced  to  procure  the  necessa- 
ries of  life.      The  wool  was  shorn  from  the  sheep, 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DANE.  471 

carded,  spun  and  woven  by  our  good  wives  and  moth- 
ers to  make  clothing  for  the  family.  Threshing  was 
done  by  means  of  oxen  treading  out  the  wheat  upon  ** 
the  ground.  The  wheat  was  taken  to  mill  with  ox- 
teams,  taking  three  or  four  days  to  get  a  grist  to  mill 
and  home  again,  Badger  Mills  being  the  nearest. 
Wheat  could  seldom  be  sold  for  money  or  traded 
for  groceries  without  hauling  it  to  Milwaukee  by 
team,  and  not  unfrequently  the  expenses  ate  up  the 
load.  What  would  the  farmers  of  Dane  think  if  they 
had  to  haul  their  wheat  one  hundred  miles  by  wagon 
and  sell  it  for  forty  cents  per  bushel  ?  And 
yet  the  universal  cry  of  1877  is  '-'•hard  times.''''  The 
common  method  of  traveling  was  on  foot  or  with  ox- 
teams.  Traveling  with  a  horse-team  and  lumber 
wagon  was  a  luxury  seldom  enjoyed.  What  a  change 
has  taken  place  in  less  than  one-third  of  a  century. 
The  old  pioneer,  when  he  looks  around,  pauses  in 
breathless  silence  and  wonders  if  this  can  be  a  reality. 
Then  he  could  stand  on  our  prairies  and  see  no  trace 
of  civilization.  The  Indian  and  the  wild  beast  roamed 
at  will  over  this  beautiful  country. 

From  the  time  the  first  blow  was  struck,  the  work 
of  civilization  has  gone  steadily  and  rapidly  on,  and 
now  the  waving  fields  of  wheat  and  corn  greet  the 
eye  in  every  direction.  The  log  cabin  has  given  place 
to  the  Btately  farm  mansion,  the  hovel  to  the  large 
and  commodious  barns,  and  the  old  rude  implements 
of  husbandry  to  the  latest  and  most  improved  farm 
machinery,  so  that  as  much  can  now  be  accomplished 


472         DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS  —  DANE. 

in  one  day,  with  the  same  motive  power,  as  could  in 
three  days,  twenty-five  years  ago. 

The  farmers  are  now  no  longer  obliged  to  spend  a 
large  portion  of  their  time  in  marketing  the  products 
of  their  farms,  being  well  accommodated  with  railroad 
facilities.  The  Northwestern  railroad  runs  nearly 
through  the  town,  crossing  the  town  line  on  the  east 
side,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  southeast  corner, 
running  in  a  northwesterly  direction,  crossing  the 
north  line  at  the  corner  of  sections  two  and  three. 
The  action  of  the  town  in  aiding  the  Northwestern 
Railroad  Company  in  building  the  road  shows  that 
the  people  of  the  town  are  awake  to  everything  that 
pertains  to  their  interest.  The  town  was  asked  to 
subscribe  ten  thousand  dollars  stock  to  the  Baraboo 
Air  Line  Railroad,  which  was  virtually  a  bonus  of 
that  amount  to  the  Northwestern  Railroad  Company. 
The  amount  was  promptly  voted,  and  the  bonds  of 
the  town  given  for  the  stock.  About  the  time  the 
bonds  of  the  town  were  given,  the  raiload  company 
made  the  town  the  following  proposition:  That  they 
wTould  buy  the  stock  at  thirty  per  cent,  if  the  town 
would  pay  the  balance  due  on  the  bonds  in  cash.  Un- 
der the  able  and  judicious  management  of  the  town 
board  of  supervisors,  Mr.  II.  H.  Brearton  being  chair- 
man, the  seven  thousand  dollars  was  paid  in  two  in- 
stallments, with  seven  per  cent,  interest.  Thus  the 
entire  indebtedness  of  the  town  was  wiped  out,  and 
its  financial  condition  is  good.  Town  expenses  are 
generally  light,  but  little  being  required  except  for 
the  salaries  of  town  officers  and  school  expenses. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DANE.  473 

Dane  Station  is  situated  on  the  Northwestern  Rail- 
road, and  is  a  flourishing  little  village.  The  princi- 
pal business  men  of  the  place  are:  M.  Arries,  dealer 
in  farm  produce ;  O'Dwyer  &  Arries,  druggists  and  dry 
goods  merchants;  M.  Roland,  dry  goods  merchant, 
who  is  also  building  a  new  warehouse  for  the  pur- 
chase of  produce;  Knuteson  &  Bro.,  blacksmiths  and 
wagon  makers;  Theodore  Stuchen,  wagon  maker; 
F.  Anhalt,  harness  maker;  A.  Ballwey,  shoemaker; 
M.  O'Dwyer,  postmaster;  N.  Opdahl,  meat  market; 
N.  Little,  blacksmith;  John  Hochstine,  Joseph  Cla- 
mes,  Nich.  Little,  saloon  keepers. 

About  one-half  of  the  population  are  of  German 
nationality,  Americans,  Norwegians,  Scotch  and  Irish 
making  up  the  balance. 

The  climate  is  very  healthy.  No  maliarial  diseases 
were  ever  known  to  originate  in  this  town. 

For  healthfulness  of  climate,  fertility  of  soil,  rail- 
road facilities,  etc.,  Dane  compares  favorably  with  the 
best  towns  in  Dane  county. 

A  large  German  Catholic  church  was  built  in  1875. 

There  are  four  school  districts  and  eight  joint  in 
town. 

The  present  town  officers  are  as  follows: 

Supei'visors —  Thomas  Leitch,  chairman,  William 
Rapp  and  Seth  Benjamin.  Town  Clerk  —  William 
T.  Leitch,  Jr.  Treasurer  —  Peter  B.  Doane.  As- 
sessor—  Frank  X.  Endres.  Justices  of  the  Peace  — 
William  T.  Leitch,  Jr.,  G.  W.  Bell,  and  Richard 
Ferrill. 


474  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS — MONTROSE. 


MOKTROSE. 

BY  H.  E.  STORY. 

This  township  lies  on  the  southern  line  of  the  coun- 
ty, which  separates  it  from  the  town  of  Exeter,  Green 
county,  and  consists  of  township  5  north,  of  range  8 
east.     It  is  fifteen  miles  southwest  of  Madison. 

The  soil  of  the  town  is  quite  varied.  The  north 
half  is  a  heavy,  clayey  soil,  mostly  oak  opening;  the 
southeast  part  is  rather  light,  warm  and  sandy;  the 
southern  part  is  mostly  timber  and  prairie,  and  is  ex- 
cellent soil.  The  whole  town  is  well  watered,  Sugar 
river  running  through  it,  entering  on  section  three 
and  passing  into  Green  county  on  section  thirty-five, 
and  also  by  the  west  branch  of  Sugar  river,  which 
enters  the  town  on  the  western  boundary  at  section 
eighteen  and  empties  into  Sugar  river  at  section  twen- 
ty-eight. A  number  of  large  springs  are  also  well 
distributed  over  the  whole  town.  The  surface  is  roll- 
ing, timber  well  distributed.  The  whole  is  well  adapt- 
ed to  stock  raising  and  the  dairy  business.  There  are 
good  marsh  lands  on  the  streams. 

The  early  settlers  were  Daniel  M.  Holt,  John  "Webb, 
J.  M.  and  P.  "W.  Matts  and  Geo.  McFadden. 

The  town  was  organized  February  11,  1847. 

In  1838,  when  Mr.  Robert  Ream  (the  father  of 
"Wisconsin's  sculptress,  Minnie  Ream,  proprietor  for 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MONTROSE.  475 

a  number  of  years  of  the  Madison  House,  or  first 
house  built  in  Madison,  at  one  time  owned  by  Eben 
Peck),  in  company  with  W.  C.  Wells,  traveled  from 
Monroe,  then  known  as  Xew  Mexico,  and  passing 
through  this  town  towards  Madison,  which  was  the 
only  market  for  produce  from  Green  county  in  those 
days,  camped  the  first  night  at  Grand  Springs,  or 
on  the  land  that  was  afterward  entered  by  Mr.  Mc- 
Faddeu,  but  which  was  not  at  that  time  known  as 
the  Springs.  After  cooking  their  supper,  and  hav- 
ing a  little  fear  of  the  wolves  troubling  them,  they  kept 
a  good  log  fire  burning,  but  did  not  remain  long 
in  the  pleasant  enjoyment  of  their  frugal  meal  before 
they  were  completely  surrounded  with  droves  of 
of  snarling,  barking,  prairie  wolves,  but  keeping 
a  rousing  fire  all  night  and  singing  negro  melo- 
dies and  camp  meeting  songs  to  help  the  general  con- 
cert of  the  roaring,  crackling  fire  and  the  infernal 
howling  of  the  wolves,  they  very  early  next  morning 
took  leave  of  their  new  friends.  Finding  the  old 
road  very  crooked  and  uncertain,  they  were  the  first 
that  blazed  the  road  between  here  and  Madison  by 
way  of  Stoner's  Prairie,  and  which  for  a  number  of 
years  wras  used  as  the  public  highway.  Mr.  Ream 
says  that  when  he  returned  from  Madison  he  made 
the  journey  to  Monroe  on  foot  in  one  day,  a  distance 
of  forty  miles  by  the  road,  and  was  obliged  to  wade 
the  Sugar  river  and  a  number  of  its  tributaries,  to- 
gether with  several  large  marshes,  which  resulted  in 
bringing  on  a  severe  attack  of  rheumatism. 


476  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS MONTROSE. 

Mr.  Ream  was  brother-in-law  of  Mrs.  McFadden, 
of  Grand  Springs,  and  in  speaking  of  the  trouble  of 
wolves  he  relates  that  on  one  occasion  when  returning 
with  a  load  of  provisions  from  Green  county,  his  sis- 
ter put  him  up  a  good  tin  can  of  butter  to  carry  home 
to  Madison.  The  possessor  of  a  good  bucket  of  dairy 
butter  was  in  those  days  a  matter  of  envy  by  all  who 
knew  of  it,  and  while  passing  over  the  rough  roads 
and  anticipating  the  pleasure  he  would  have  on  reach- 
ing home  and  showing  his  prize,  he  unconsciously  tip- 
ped out  the  basket  and  traveled  four  or  five  miles 
before  he  missed  his  treasure.  Taking  one  of  his 
horses  out  of  the  wagon,  which  he  mounted,  he  started 
back,  but  only  reached  the  place  where  his  loss  occur- 
red in  time  to  scare  off  a  pack  of  wolves  that  had  not 
only  devoured  the  butter,  but  had  gnawed  the  bucket 
in  pieces. 

Mr.  W.  W.  "Willoughby,  one  of  the  old  pioneer  set- 
tlers, speaking  of  the  condition  of  things  when  he 
came,  says: 

Myself  and  family  arrived  in  the  town  of  Montrose  at  noon  on  the 
16th  day  of  May,  1846.  Starting  from  Chautauque  county,  New- 
York,  we  were  twenty-two  days  on  the  road.  We  put  up  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Geo.  McFadden,  where  we  relished,  with  a  keen  appe- 
tite, the  pork  and  beans  set  out  before  us  for  dinner.  We  encoun- 
tered a  great  number  of  hardships  in  consequence  of  the  rainy 
weather,  the  muddy  roads  being  such  as  to  very  much  impede  our 
progress.  Vegetation  was  pretty  far  advanced,  and  the  whole 
country  looked  beautiful,  but  we  had  become  so  mystified  in  our 
continued  traveling,  that  the  sun  would  persist  in  setting  in  the 
north  and  rising  in  the  south.  Go  where  we  liked,  it  would  remain 
so  until  time  wore  it  out. 

Religious  services  were  always  held  in  summer  in  Mr.  McFad- 


frtr 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS MONTKOSE.  477 

den's  barn,  and  in  winter,  in  the  house.  The  day  after  our  arrival 
being  the  Sabbath,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bunting  preached  from  the  text : 
'"Are  not  the  waters  of  Abana  and  Pharpar,  rivers  of  Damascus, 
better  than  all  the  waters  of  Israel?  may  I  not  wash  in  them 
and  be  clean?"  In  two  or  three  weeks  after  my  arrival,  I 
raised  a  balloon-frame  house,  the  first  in  the  town.  There  being 
but  one  sawmill  hi  the  county  near  at  hand,  I  had  to  take  my  turn 
in  getting  lumber  from  the  mill,  which  was  about  once  in  two  weeks, 
and  then  I  would  get  a  small  load  of  clapboards  to  nail  on.  In  the 
meantime  we  had  no  roof  over  our  heads,  only  a  carpet,  which  did 
very  well  except  when  it  rained,  and  it  seemed  as  though  that  was 
every  night.  The  only  way  we  kept  dry  was  for  my  wife  and 
child  to  sleep  under  the  umbrella,  while  I  hung  my  camlet  cloak 
slanting  on  some  chains.  With  all  these  inconveniences  I  enjoyed 
myself  hugely,  but  my  wife  would  get  homesick  once  in  a  while, 
and  would  often  make  tea  five  times  a  day  to  get  rid  of  it.  Tea 
is  a  good  medicine  for  homesick  people,  and  I  can  recommend  it 
from  experience.  About  three  months  after  we  came,  we  were  able 
to  keep  dry  in  our  own  house,  and,  though  small  in  size,  we  often 
had  as  many  as  eighteen  living  with  us.  Sometimes  as  many  as 
three  famDies  of  our  friends  would  stay  with  us  from  five  to  six 
weeks,  until  they  got  located. 

The  first  school  kept  in  this  township  was  taught  in  my  gram 
barn,  Miss  Kate  Killroy,  teacher.  All  the  children  for  two  miles 
each  way  made  a  school  of  over  twenty  scholars.  We  were  good 
friends  and  neighbors  in  those  days,  when  we  lived  five  and  six 
miles  apart.  It  was  in  these  times  that  we  drove  ox  teams  to  Mil- 
waukee, got  forty  cents  a  bushel  for  wheat,  and  took  eight  days  to 
make  the  trip. 

Deer  were  very  plenty  then.  I  remember  inviting  my  wife  to  go 
hunting  with  me  (I  never  was  much  of  a  hunter,  but  I  killed  a  deer 
once  in  a  while).  Starting  with  my  team,  I  had  not  gone  over  half 
a  mile  from  home  before  I  came  broadside  upon  a  big  buck.  Leav- 
ing the  reins  to  my  wife  I  drew  up  my  gun,  but  it  shook  so  I  missed 
the  deer,  and  my  wife  teased  me  so  much  about  it  that  I  never 
asked  her  to  go  hunting  again. 

The  time  of  my  first  visit  to  Madison  was  in  June  of  the  same 
year  I  moved  here,  and  I  went  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McFadden.  We 
were  entertained  at  the  house  of  W.  W.  Wyman,  who  printed  the 
whig  paper,  and  politics  ran  very  high  then.    His  daughter  Emily 


47S  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  MONTROSE. 

invited  my  wife  to  go  into  the  printing  office,  and  her  introduction 
of  my  wife  to  her  father  was,  "  Father,  give  this  lady  a  paper;  she 
is  a  whig."  She  had  made  the  discovery  that  my  wife  was  a  whig, 
which  in  after  acquaintance  was  the  cause  of  many  a  laugh  with 
Miss  Emily,  who  is  now  no  more.  I  still  live  on  the  farm  I  entered 
from  the  government,  and  but  few  of  my  old  neighbors  are  left  here 
with  me. 

The  year  1846  was  a  very  sickly  season;  almost  everybody  in  our 
part  of  the  country  had  the  ague,  and  before  I  had  been  here  three 
months  I  was  taken  down  with  a  sickness  the  nature  of  which  I 
did  not  know.  There  was  no  doctor  except  Dr.  Fox,  and  he  lived 
fifteen  miles  away.  I  found  it  necessary  to  consult  some  one, 
so  Mr.  McFadden  showed  me  the  Indian  trail,  and  told  me  to  fol- 
low it  and  it  would  take  me  to  the  doctor's  house.  I  obeyed  in- 
structions and  found  him.  He  was  sitting  in  his  chair,  prop- 
ped up  with  pillows  and  bed  quilts,  and  his  wife  trying  to  make 
him  comfortable.  It  seemed  he  had  had  the  misfortune  to 
fall  into  a  half  dug  well,  having  been  called  up  the  night  before, 
and  had  broken  some  of  his  ribs  and  sprained  an  ankle,  and  was 
smashed  up  in  general.  But  all  of  that  did  not  prevent  him  from 
administering  to  his  patients.  He  told  7ne  I  had  the  ague,  and 
gave  me  some  medicine.  I  continued  after  that  to  have  it  about 
one  year  off  and  on. 

I  had  but  little  means  left  after  my  farm  was  paid  for;  in  fact, 
nothing  but  my  hands,  and  I  truly  thought  it  looked  like  a  sorry  day 
for  me.  But  there  was  a  good  deal  of  teaming  at  that  time  from 
Illinois  with  flour  into  the  pineries,  and  one  man  being  too  heavily 
loaded,  sold  me  a  barrel  of  flour  for  twelve  shillings.  None  knew 
how  thankful  I  was  for  that  good  fortune.  My  wife  and  Mary  Kill- 
roy  were  the  only  women  in  this  part  of  the  town  that  escaped  the 
ague.  A  family  from  Vermont,  named  Rogers,  who  lived  about  one 
mile  from  me,  with  a  family  of  seven  children,  were  all  down  with 
it,  and  my  wife  and  Mary  used  to  take  turns  in  baking  bread 
for  them.  I  being  sick,  my  wife  would  have  to  hunt  the  cows  at 
night,  and  as  we  had  heard  awful  stories  about  snakes  in  Wiscon- 
sin (she  was  terribly  afraid  of  them),  she  would  put  on  my  high 
topped  boots,  and  when  she  came  to  high  grass  (it  was  pretty  high 
in  those  days),  she  says  she  ran  through  it  for  dear  life. 

Prairie  chickens  were  more  plenty  in  my  dooryard  than  tame 
ones.    The  first  one  I  ever  saw  was  on  the  other  side  of  Beloit.    I 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MONTROSE.  479 

heard  a  strange  noise  in  the  marsh,  so  I  took  my  gun,  thinking 
of  wolves  all  the  time,  and  started  to  see.  When  I  came  hi  the 
vicinity  of  the  groaning,  to  my  astonishment  it  was  nothing  but  a 
bird,  stamping  around  with  its  feathers  all  in  a  rumple,  and  wliile  1 
was  contemplating  and  wondering  what  the  d — 1  ailed  it,  it  took 
wing  and  left. 

The  first  postoffice  established  was  called  Grand  Spring,  and  re- 
mained so  until  Belleville  grew  up  a  village,  when  it  was  changed 
to  that  place  and  name.  I  think  our  town  was  first  named  Grand 
Spring  by  Mr.  McFadden,  after  his  spring,  but  there  were  so  many 
townships  that  had  a  spring  in  their  name  that  the  legislature  did 
not  grant  their  request.  I  think  it  was  named  Montrose  by  P.  W. 
Matts,  Esq. 

For  thirty-one  years  I  have  enjoyed  Wisconsin  life.  Whether  I 
live  thirty-one  years  longer  or  not,  I  know  they  will  not  be  any  hap- 
pier. W.  W.  WlLLOUGHBY. 

BELLEYILLE. 

The  village  of  Belleville  is  situated  on  the  west 
bank  of  Sugar  River,  on  the  south  line  of  the  county, 
twenty  miles  southwest  of  Madison.  It  is  surrounded 
by  an  excellent  farming  country,  well  adapted  to 
stock  raising  and  dairy  purposes,  which  is  now  be- 
coming the  most  profitable  business  in  the  county. 
A  large  portion  of  the  farms  are  stocked  with  sheep. 

The  splendid  stock  farm  of  William  Lysaght's  of 
twelve  hundred  acres  is  near  the  village;  he  is  the 
largest  and  most  successful  stock  raiser  in  the  state, 
and  bases  his  plans  on  practical  and  scientific  prin- 
ciples. His  influence  among  the  farmers,  by  his 
knowledge  of  stock  raising,  has  been  a  great  benefit 
to  the  town.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  superior  educa- 
tional attainments,  high  minded,  reliable  and  honora- 
ble, having  resided  here  since  the  first  settlement  of 
the  town. 


480  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MONTROSE. 

The  raising  of  stock  on  small  farms  is  now  very  ex- 
tensive, and  is  daily  increasing,  resulting  from  the 
continued  failure  of  the  wheat  crop  for  the  last  fifteen 
years.  Farmers  having  thus  been  forced  into  the 
stock  business  have  given  their  land  rest,  and  en- 
riched it,  where  otherwise  it  was  becoming  impover- 
ished by  the  raising  of  wheat. 

John  Frederick  located  here  in  1847,  and  built  a 
grist  mill  the  next  year;  he  was  the  first  settler  on 
land  now  occupied  by  the  village,  and  built  the  first 
dwelling  house.  In  1848,  the  village  was  laid  out  by 
John  Frederick  and  John  Mitchell,  owning  one-half, 
or  twenty  acres  each.  The  village  was  name*.,  af u-  i' 
Frederick's  native  place,  Belleville,  Canada  West. 
The  first  marriage  solemnized  in  the  village,  was  by 
the  Rev.  Matthew  Fox.,  and  in  Mr.  Frederick's  house. 

The  first  store  was  built  in  1847,  by  John  Sylvester, 
and  occupied  by  him  till  1857,  when  he  removed  to 
Kentucky,  his  native  place. 

The  first  district  school  was  organized  in  1846,  now 
district  No.  3.  A  meeting  was  called  for  all  the  legal 
voters  in  the  town,  and  the  attendance  was  quite  large 
for  that  time.  The  especial  object,  aside  from  the 
organization,  was  the  location  of  the  school.  After 
quite  a  discussion  upon  the  subject,  it  was  found  on 
examination  that  there  were  but  two  legal  voters,  Geo. 
McFadden  and  ¥m.  Morehead,  and  they  located  the 
school,  However,  the  remainder  retired  quietly,  and 
were  afterwards  well  satisfied  with  the  location,  it  be- 
ing near  the  center  of  the  town.     There  are  now  sev- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MONTROSE.  481 

en  school  districts  in  the  town  which  compare  favor- 
ably with  any  in  the  county. 

The  first  school  house  was  built  in  1847,  an  octagon 
building,  one  story,  and  intended  at  that  time  to  ac- 
commodate about  forty  scholars.  The  present  school 
house  was  built  in  1869,  28  by  36  feet,  two  stories 
high,  and  will  bear  comparison  with  any  village 
school  house  in  the  eounty. 

The  first  religious  society  formed,  or  organized 
in  the  township,  was  Presbyterian,  in  1817,  Rev. 
Matthew  Fox,  pastor.  The  meetings  were  held  from 
that  time  until  the  village  was  laid  out,  and  the 
school  house  built,  in  Geo.  MacFadden's  barn,  at  the 
Grand  Spring  Farm.  Mr.  Fox  continued  to  preach 
once  in  two  weeks,  for  some  time,  with  great  satisfac- 
tion, till  about  1861.  He  was  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him,  for  his  energy,  manliness,  and 
the  honesty  with  which  he  gave  expression  to  his 
opinions  and  sentiments.  The  church  is  still  in  a 
prosperous  condition,  and  is  composed  of  some  of  the 
wealthiest  citizens. 

Rev.  Matthew  Fox  speaking  of  his  early  ministerial 
work  among  the  pioneer  settlers,  says: 

Geo.  McFadden  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  the  section  of 
country  now  known  as  the  town  of  Montrose;  he  established  him- 
self near  the  Sugar  river  some  18  miles  S.  and  E.  from  Madison. 
There  was  a  large  spring,  and  on  that  he  built  his  log  house. 
At  that  time  there  was  considerable  teaming  to  the  pinery  of  Wis- 
consin from  Northern  Illinois.  Mr.  McFadden's  residence  was  in 
the  line  of  travel,  and  teamsters  used  to  put  up  there  attracted  by 
the  spring,  his  comfortable  barn   and  ample  board.     The  place 

31 


1S2  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MONTROSE. 

was  known  as  Grand  Spring.  Shortly  after  my  arrival  in  Wiscon- 
sin, in  1845,  1  was  invited  to  preach  here,  and  after  some  time 
established  regular  services.  For  a  while  I  preached  in  Mr.  McFad- 
den's  barn,  afterwards  in  Iris  house  and  at  a  later  day  in  a 
school  house.  I  organized  the  Presbyterian  church  (now  known 
as  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Belleville)  in  that  barn,  and  there 
administered  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  The  place  where 
Belleville  now  stands  was  then  a  wilderness. 

There  was  an  Indian  trail  from  Second  Lake  to  Sugar  river,  and 
that  trail  was  my  guide  in  those  early  days.  1  also  preached  at  the 
Badger  mills  before  the  town  of  Verona  was  established,  and  at  the 
residence  of  Mr.  George  Robinson  held  regular  services.  There  I  or- 
ganized the  Presbyterian  church,  now  known  as  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Verona. 

I  commenced  my  ministerial  work  in  the  place  now  known  as  Ore- 
gon in  August,  1845.  The  bar-room  of  the  Rome  house  was  my 
church.  After  a  year's  labor  I  organized  a  Presbyterian  church. 
Caleb  Spooner  and  Charles  P.  Moseley  were  the  Elders.  The  amount 
of  salary  raised  for  me  during  the  second  year  of  my  ministry  at 
Oregon  was  twenty-seven  dollars  and  fifty  cents.  But  few  of  the  first 
members  of  the  church  ar-e  now  living.  In  a  pastorate  of  so  many 
years,  I  have  witnessed  great  changes;  have  had  experience  of 
great  hardships;  have  received  many  signal  blessings  and  have  had 
many  precious  evidences  of  affectionate  regard;  here  I  have  spent 
the  vigor  of  my  life,  and  here,  as  the  shadows  of  life's  evening  are 
gathering,  I  am  waiting  for  the  voice  of  my  Redeemer  to  call  me 
Home. 

In  1856,  our  house  of  worship  was  built;  our  membership  as  per 
session  record  is  some  90. 

In  1853,  a  Free  Will  Baptist  society  and  church 
was  organized  here,  Rev.  Benjamin  Davis,  pastor.  It 
continued  but  a  few  years  and  then  died  out. 

About  1817,  the  Methodists  began  to  hold  meetings 
here,  and  have  continued  to  do  so  with  varying  suc- 
cess, up  to  the  present. 

In  1856,  a  Baptist  society  and  church  was  organ- 
ized, Rev.  Mr.  Whitman,  pastor,  and  prospered  well 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MONTROSE.  483 

under  his  ministration.  In  1858,  the  society,  with 
the  assistance  of  each  of  the  other  religious  bodies, 
built  the  first  church,  which  was  also  used  by  the 
other  denominations  until  1875.  The  house  at  this 
time  being  badly  out  of  repair,  in  consequence  of  a 
number  of  those  who  had  taken  an  active  interest  in 
the  church  having  died,  or  removed  from  here,  so 
that  there  were  not  enough  left  to  interest  themselves 
in  the  necessary  repairs,  when  it  was  leased  to  the  Sec- 
ond Advent  Church  and  society  for  ninety-nine  years. 
This  society  was  formed  about  1858,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Hitchcock,  pastor,  and  has  continued  prosperous  up 
to  the  present  time.  Since  the  leasing  of  the  church 
to  them  they  have  repaired  it  in  a  very  tasteful  man- 
ner, and  it  is  now  quite  an  ornament  to  the  village. 
The  Baptist,  Presbyterian  and  Methodist  still  possess 
the  right  to  use  it. 

The  first  physician  that  settled  here  was  Dr.  E.  H. 
Osborne,  who  came  in  1817,  and  lias  earned  a  reputa- 
tion as  one  of  the  most  successful  in  Dane  county; 
his  practice  extending  over  several  townships.  He  re- 
tired from  practice  in  1874  (on  account  of  failing 
health),  with  an  ample  fortune  —  a  large  hearted  man, 
ever  ready  to  help  all  enterprises  that  would  be  for 
the  benefit  of  his  fellow  man,  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

The  cemetery  was  laid  out  in  1855,  on  land  bought 
of  Wellington  Willoughby.  Until  a  few  years  back 
but  little  interest  was  taken  in  keeping  the  ground  in 
proper  repair,  but  now  there  is  quite  a  taste  awakened 
to  suitably  ornament  the  grounds. 


4S4  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS MONTKOSE. 

The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  built  in  1848,  by 
Mr.  Fuller.  He  continued  in  business  until  1851, 
when  he  returned  to  Ohio. 

The  first  hotel  was  built  by  John  "Wood  in  1851, 
and  to-day  will  compare  favorably  with  any  village 
hotel.  It  is  in  excellent  condition,  and  kept  in  grand 
style  by  the  present  owner,  S.  A.  Barker,  who  has  the 
tact  and  the  means  to  keep  a  good  hotel. 

The  first  mill  built  here  was  by  John  Frederick  in 
1844,  a  large  stone  building,  but  was  taken  down  in 
1870.  The  present  mill  was  built  in  1867,  by  fm. 
B.  Norris,  who  sold  to  J.  W.  Norton  in  1870,  who 
now  owns  and  oj>erates  it. 

This  is  one  of  the  best  water  powers  on  Sugar  riv- 
er. There  is  scarcely  one-half  the  power  utillized. 
It  is  also  one  of  the  safest  and  least  expensive,  not 
being  liable  to  damage  by  floods,  which  speaks  well 
for  it  as  one  of  the  best  locations  for  manufacturing 
purposes  in  Dane  county.  The  business  of  the  vil- 
lage at  present  is  two  good  general  stores,  H.  E. 
Story  and  William  B.  Norris,  both  doing  a  good 
business;  J.  D.  Oliver,  harness  shop,  doing  a  pros- 
perous business;  D.  S.  Smith,  wagon  shop,  doing  a 
good  paying  business;  T.  B.  Withers,  blacksmith; 
Geo.  Dyson,  shoe  shop;  C.  C.  Pease,  cheese  fac- 
tory; Miss  A.  H.  Gassett,  millinery  goods,  and  doing 
an  excellent  business;  Miss  Kate  Sullivan,  dressmak- 
er; J.  M.  Williams,  cabinet  maker. 

The  growth  of  Belleville  has  been  shown  from  the 
start,  but  being  located  between   two  railroads  forty 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MONTROSE.  485 

miles  apart,  about  equal  distance  between  them,  it 
very  naturally  has  a  tendency  to  carry  immigration 
by  to  newer  places,  with  better  prospects  for  rail- 
road comforts  and  conveniences.  A  route  for  a  rail- 
road was  surveyed  from  Brodhead  to  the  Wisconsin 
river  in  1856,  and  another  about  the  same  time  from 
Brodhead  to  Madison.  But  owing;  to  bad  management 
and  local  jealousy,  it  was  never  completed.  The 
present  spring  another  has  been  surveyed  from  Brook- 
lyn to  Belleville,  a  branch  of  the  Northwestern,  and 
it  is  hoped  may  be  built.  Should  we  get  a  road  to 
this  place,  we  would  in  a  very  few  years  have  the 
largest  town  in  Dane  county,  judging  from  the  beau- 
tiful location,  ease  of  access,  water  power,  and  well 
cultivated  lands. 

There  are  several  mounds  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
some  of  them  have  been  opened,  but  nothing  new  dis- 
covered to  give  any  light  on  their  origin. 

PAOLI BY  II.   S.  TJTLEY. 

Paoli  village  is  situated  on  the  east  branch  of  Sugar 
river,  in  the  town  of  Montrose,  five  miles  north  of 
the  county  line  between  Green  and  Dane  counties, 
the  river  here  having;  an  average  width  of  about 
twenty-five  feet  and  the  valley  of  about  two  miles. 

Fine  farming  lands  surround  the  village  on  every 
side,  and  within  a  few  years  good  and  substantial 
farm  houses  and  barns  have  been  erected. 

The  village  was  laid  out  and  named  by  Hon.  P.  W. 
Matts,  in  1849,  and  a  saw-mill  put  up  by  him  the 


486  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  MONTROSE. 

next  year.  The  water  power  is  gained  by  a  race  one- 
fourth  of  a  mile  long,  cutting  across  a  bow  in  the 
river.     The  fall  is  about  eight  feet. 

The  first  store  was  opened  by  John  Mitchell  in 
1851. 

In  1S6J:  the  mill  property  was  bought  by  the  broth- 
ers, B.  M.  and  F.  H.  Mincli,  who  put  up  a  substan- 
tial stone  grist-mill,  using  the  saw-mill  as  a  storage 
room.  They  now  do  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
B.  M.  Mincli  &  Co. 

Others,  doing  business  at  present,  are  the  following: 
"Willliam  Fischer,  Postmaster,  dealer  in  dry  goods 
and  groceries,  and  proprietor  of  the  Paoli  Cheese 
Factory.  William  Minch  &  Co.,  dry  goods,  grocer- 
ies and  notions.  Henry  Goodnow,  general  black- 
smith, light  and  heavy  forging.  Solon  J.  Smith, 
harnessmaker.  C.  J.  Keve,  blacksmith.  John  Mey- 
er, wagonmaker.  Milo  Sanders,  carpenter  and  joiner. 
Miss  Mary  J.  Ulerich,  dressmaker.  Miss  Lucy  San- 
ders, milliner.  Mr.  Hangartner,  shoemaker.  Dr. 
George  Pickett,  physician  and  surgeon.  Frank 
Meng,  proprietor  and  keeper  of  the  hotel. 

Paoli  cemetery,  one-half  a  mile  south  of  the  vil- 
lage, is  regularly  laid  out  with  a  central  park  and 
pleasantly  situated. 

The  St.  Kaphael  (Catholic)  church  and  parsonage 
are  located  in  a  thriving  German  settlement  two  and 
one-half  miles  west  of  the  village. 

The  Methodist  church  was  organized  about  the  year 
1850  in  the  log  school  house,  and  one  of  the  principal 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MONTROSE.  487 

preachers  of  that  day  was  known  as  Father  Fox,  a 
very  earnest  advocate  of  the  gospel,  and  father  of 
Dr.  and  Rev.  Matthew  Fox,  of  Oregon.  They  now 
have  a  neat  and  commodious  church  building  in  the 
village.     The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Mr.  Burnip. 

The  Paoli  school  house  is  pleasantly  situated  on  the 
east  bank  of  Sugar  river,  and  consists  of  two  commo- 
dious rooms  well  furnished,  the  school  being  graded 
into  two  departments  during  the  winter  term.  The 
assessed  valuation  of  the  district  is  $131,500,  and  it 
has  108  children. 

Paoli  Lodge,  No.  177,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  meets  every 
Tuesday  evening,  in  M.  E.  Church. 

Paoli  Grange,  No.  476,  meets  Saturday  evenings, 
every  two  weeks,  in  Solon  J.  Smith's  hall. 

During  the  winter,  the  large  hall  in  William  Fisch- 
er's Cheese  Factory  makes  a  very  pleasant  place  for 
social  gatherings. 


488        DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS DUNN. 


DUNK 

BY  WILLIAM  E.  COLL  AD  AY,  Esq. 

Dunn,  or  township  6  north,  range  10  east  of  the 
4th  principal  meridian,  lies  south  of  Blooming  Grove, 
and  Lake  Waubesa,  or  Second  Lake,  and  north  of 
Rutland,  between  Pleasant  Springs  and  Lake  Ke- 
gonsa,  or  First  Lake  on  the  east,  and  the  towns  of 
Oregon  and  Fitchburg  on  the  west. 

The  original  name  of  this  town  was  Rome,  com- 
prising what  is  now  Oregon,  Fitchburg  and  Dunn. 
When  set  apart  from  the  other  towns,  Dover  was  the 
name  that  was  intended  to  have  been  given  it;  but 
in  1848,  by  mistake  of  the  engrossing  clerk  of  the 
Assembly,  it  received  its  present  name. 

The  surface  of  this  town  is  somewhat  undulated, 
yet  not  marked  by  any  steep  ascents  or  sterile  bluffs; 
but  consists  of  prairie,  oak  openirgs  and  meadow  land. 
The  soil  on  the  prairie  and  a  portion  of  the  lower 
lands  is  rich  black  loam,  with  limy  clay  and  sandy  sub- 
soil in  the  openings.  Madison,  the  University  and  In- 
sane Asylum  can  be  seen  from  several  points  in  town. 

The  largest  stream  is  the  Yahara,  or  Catfish  river, 
which  is  the  outlet  of  Lake  "Waubesa,  or  Second 
Lake,  and  runs  in  a  southeasterly  direction  through 
sections  4,  10,  11,  and  14,  into  First  Lake,  and  then 
winds  its  way  into  Rock  river. 

On  section  10,  the  river  widens  and  covers  an  area 
of  nearly  half  a  section,  or   about  a  mile  long  and 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DUNN.  4S9 

lialf  a  mile  wide,  and  is  called  the  "  Wide  Spread,"  or 
"  Mud  Lake."  This  stream  is  well  wooded  on  either 
bank  with  heavy  timbers,  and  a  greater  portion  of  the 
way,  the  banks  being  high  and  dry,  afford  splendid 
facilities  for  milling  purposes. 

The  second  largest  stream  is  Door  Creek,  which 
rises  on  section  7,  in  the  town  of  Cottage  Grove, 
winds  its  way  from  the  north,  through  sections  1,  12, 
and  13  of  this  town,  and  empties  into  First  Lake. 
Hook  Lake  covers  an  area  of  several  hundred  acres  on 
sections  28,  29,  and  32,  and  is  stagnant  water,  fed  by 
small  springs  and  surface  water;  has  no  outlet  but 
almost  evaporates  as  fast  as  fed  by  springs.  High 
water  occurs  only  in  times  of  rainy  seasons.  During 
dry  seasons,  cranberries  are  gathered  on  the  marshes. 

These  lakes,  with  the  exception  of  Hook  Lake, 
teem  with  fishes  of  most  every  species  adapted  to  fresh 
water,  and  during  the  early  settlement  of  this  town, 
were  so  abundant  that  they  could  be  taken  from  the 
smaller  streams  by  pitchforks.  On  the  lakes,  swans, 
pelicans,  geese  and  ducks  were  numerous,  and  the 
woods  abounded  with  bears,  wolves,  foxes  and  deer. 

On  the  west  bank  of  First  Lake,  on  sec.  14  and  23, 
there  was  at  one  time  a  village  of  Winnebago  Indians, 
and  numerous  trails  and  relics  are  still  found,  as  well 
as  a  number  of  Indian  mounds,  or  cemeteries,  where 
they  buried  their  dead.  These  mounds  are  numerous 
on  sec.  23,  and  also  on  the  point  that  projects  into  the 
lake  from  the  west.  Here  they  have  been  opened,  and 
remains  of  Indians  found  therein,  two,  three  and  four 
having  been  buried  in  the  same  grave.  Lead  ore  is 
frequently  found  on  sections  ltt  and  23,  in  bulks  con- 


490  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DUNN. 

tainting  from  three  to  fifteen  pounds  each.  Where  it 
came  from,  or  whether  mines  of  this  valuable  mineral 
exist  undiscovered  by  civilization,  we  are  unable  to 
say.  Abel  Rasdall,  an  Indian  fur  trader,  was  told  by 
the  Indians  that  ore  did  exist  in  quantities  near  the 
lake.  A  few  years  since  we  discovered,  on  the  south 
bank  of  the  Catfish  river,  near  the  lake,  a  kiln,  or 
place  made  of  stone  and  clay  under  ground,  where 
lead  ore  was  smelted  by  the  aborigines,  and  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  seemed  to  be  a  great  resort  for  tribes 
of  savages,  as  Indian  relics  are  frequently  found,  such 
as  arrow  heads,  stone  axes,  etc. 

One  of  the  detachments  of  the  army  in  pursuit  of 
Black  Hawk,  on  his  retreat  to  Prairie  du  Chien, 
camped  for  several  days  on  section  27,  where  they 
felled  trees  to  form  a  strong  corral  for  their  horses. 

The  town  was  first  settled  by  Alvah  W.  Wetherby 
and  family,  on  section  21,  in  1843.  The  following 
year,  Dr.  Levi  Pritchard  settled  on  section  18;  A. 
Witcomb  on  section  28;  Dexter  brothers  on  section 
27;  Root  brothers,  one  on  section  27,  and  one  on  sec- 
tion 7;  Richard  Palmer  on  section  18;  O.  B.  Moore 
on  section  1;  and  William  M.  Colladay  on  section  27. 
In  three  or  four  years  after  the  first  settlement,  the 
inhabitants  seemed  to  be  quite  numerous,  and  in  1848 
there  were  about  twenty-five  families  settled  in  what 
is  now  the  town  of  Dunn.  Wetherby  having  accum- 
ulated property,  emigrated  in  1858  to  California. 
Dr.  Pritchard  practiced  as  a  homoeopathic  physician 
with  great  success,  and  gained  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  the  whole  country,  and  against  the  real  wishes  of 
the  people  he  emigrated  to  Missouri,  where  he  died 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DUNN.  491 

about  the  year  1S70.  The  Root  brothers  emigrated 
from  here  to  Oregon.  A.  \Vitcomb  and  the  Dexter 
brothers  (Witcomb's  nephews)  emigrated  to  Ne- 
braska. O.  B.  Moore  still  resides  on  his  old  home- 
stead. He  has  held  the  office  of  chairman  of  the 
town  board  of  supervisors  for  several  different  terms, 
besides  various  other  town  offices ;  is  an  energetic  Re- 
publican, and  strong  supporter  of  education. 

Wm.  M.  Colladay  immigrated  from  Philadelphia 
to  this  town  and  first  settled  on  section  27,  where  he 
lived  for  several  years.  In  1853  he  moved  on  to  sec- 
tion 23,  bordering  on  First  Lake,  where  he  still  re- 
sides; this  being  one  of  the  finest  locations  in  the 
country.  These  commodious  grounds  and  pleasant 
scenery  make  it  a  pleasant  summer  resort.  Picnics, 
fishing  parties,  etc.,  are  almost  an  every  day  occur- 
rence; at  this  writing,  July,  1877,  there  are  encamped 
on  the*e  grounds  several  parties,  in  all  forty- two,  with 
nine  tents.  To  give  an  idea  of  the  natural  beauty  of 
this  place  and  lake,  we  here  insert  a  card  verbatim, 
from  a  young  man,  dated  London,  England.: 

March  10,  1877. 

Hon.  W.  M.  Colladay  and  Family.  —  While  here  my  thoughts 
often  revert  to  my  many  friends  in  Wisconsin,  and  especially  to  your- 
self and  family,  and  the  pleasant  occasions  spent  with  you.  In  all 
my  travels  in  America  and  this  country,  I've  not  seen  a  place  that, 
for  natural  beauty,  equaled  yours.  If  1  ever  reach  home  again  in 
Wisconsin,  be  assured  you  will  find  me  again  at  Colladay 's  Point. 

My  regards  to  all  the  family.     Yours  respectfully,         W.  J.  P. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  residence  of 
A.  W.  Wetherby,  April  4, 1848;  the  spring  election  of 
the  territory  at  which  the  state  constitution  was 
adopted.  Only  twenty-three  votes  were  cast,  and  the 
following  were  the  first  elective  officers:  R.  T.  Raw- 


492  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  DUNN. 

son,  chairman,  "Win.  Freeman  and  Eli  Root,  super- 
visors; ¥m.  M.  Colladay,  clerk;  Norman  Farwell, 
Henry  Farns worth  and  Joseph  C.  Swain,  school  com- 
missioners; "Wrn.  M.  Colladay  and  JR.  G.  Spaulding, 
justices  of  the  peace;  A.  W.  "Wetherby,  treasurer; 
Calvin  Farnsworfch,  assessor.  At  the  last  presiden- 
tial election  there  were  229  votes  cast,  and  at  the  last 
local  election  216. 

During  the  earlv  history  of  the  town,  there  were  no 
party  lines  drawn  at  local  elections,  but  as  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  grew  strong,  they  took  matters  in  their 
own  hands.  Within  the  last  few  years  the  young 
men  have  taken  an  active  part  in  political  afl'airs,  and 
the  Republican  party  have  gained  control. 

The  first  public  school  was  taught  at  the  residence 
of  Asa  Dexter,  by  Miss  Amanda  Soul,  now  the  es- 
teemed wife  of  Asher  G.  Greene  of  this  town.  The 
district  then  comprised  nearly  the  whole  township.  The 
first  school  district  organized  was  what  is  now  Dis- 
trict No.  4.  There  are  in  town  six  school  houses,  in- 
cluding two  joint  districts.  The  amount  expended 
annually  for  educational  purposes  is  about  $1,500. 

The  fiist  sermon  preached  wTas  at  the  residence  of 
"Win.  Slater,  about  \ 847,  by  the  Rev.  Win.  Fox,  an 
old  pioneer  Methodist  from  Ireland. 

There  is  one  church,  erected  in  1873,  at  McFarland, 
by  the  Norwegian  Lutherans.  The  Methodist  Epis- 
copal society  hold  services  every  other  Sunday,  alter- 
nately, at  Hoffman's  Hall  and  the  school  house  in  dis- 
trict No.  4.    The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  W.  J.  "Wilson. 

In  1855,  the  Milwaukee  and  Prairie  du  Chien  Rail- 
road Company  erected  a  depot  on  the  northeast  quar- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DUNN.  493 

ter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  two.  The  vil- 
lage of  McFarland  was  laid  out  on  section  three,  by 
Wm.  II.  McFarland  in  1857,  and  the  depot  removed, 
and  the  spacious  residence  of  Mr.  McFarland  erected. 
The  following  season  he  moved  his  family  from  Mil- 
waukee to  his  new  home,  where  he  still  resides.  He 
is  a  hearty  supporter  of  education,  and  offers  to  do- 
nate a  site  for  the  erection  of  a  suitable  building  for 
a  public  graded  school,  of  which  we  arc  in  much  need. 
In  1856,  Eugene  Eighmy  bought  grain  at  the  old 
depot,  and  continued  to  buy  after  the  erection  of  the 
new  depot  until  the  spring  of  1859,  when  Freeman 
Eighmy  assumed  the  business  and  continues  to  bny, 
always  paying  the  highest  market  price  for  all  pro- 
duce, and  every  man  is  sure  to  get  full  weight. 
All  in  all,  we  have  the  best  market  in  the  counhy, 
and  a  buyer  in  whom  all  place  the  utmost  confi- 
dence; and  he  in  return  is  worthy  of  their  trust, 
he  is  also  proprietor  of  a  lumber  yard,  where  he 
keeps  a  large  stock  of  first  class  lumber.  In  1868, 
Mr.  Eighmy  erected  a  commodious  and  substantial 
warehouse,  in  which  the  capacity  for  storage  is  ten 
thousand  bushels.  Lawrence  Eighmy  and  Philetus 
Hurd,  stock  buyers,  courteous,  gentlemen,  are  always 
ready  to  pay  the  highest  market  price  for  live  stock. 
Eugene  Eighmy,  a  social  business  man,  has  a  large  trade 
in  the  mercantile  business.  O.  O.  Forton  also  has  a 
good  trade  and  large  stock  of  general  merchandise. 
H.  H.  Hoffman  has  a  large  convenient  store  with  a 
small  stock  of  clothing  and  crockery,  and  a  fair  trade. 
Lloyd  Hurd,  an  energetic  young  man,  has  a  good 
business  in  the  harness  trade.      Lamp,  our  village 


494  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS DUNN. 

smithy,  has  all  the  work  he  can  attend  to.  Shelter 
&  Iieid  also  have  a  blacksmith  shop.  Nelson  &  Han- 
son are  proprietors  of  a  -  boot  and  shoe  firm.  Ed. 
Johnson,  dealer  in  confectionery,  boots  and  shoes. 

Among  our  most  prominent  farmers  and  stock  rais- 
ers are  Geo.  Keenan  (the  owner  of  the  largest  real 
estate  and  most  spacious  farm  residence  in  the  county), 
Wm.  E.  Sherlock,  Michael  Lally,  Win.  M.  Colladay, 
Robt.  Henry,  Knute  Daley,  Timothy  Cusic,  James 
Tusler,  Egbert  Bennett,  Tollif  Olson,  Morris  Brown, 
Geo.  Leitch  and  Calvin  Farnsworth.  In  common  with 
other  parts  of  this  county,  until  within  a  few  years, 
the  principal  crop  was  wheat;  but  since,  the  yield  has 
been  so  seriously  affected  by  the  chinch  bug  and 
other  unknown  causes,  the  greater  portion  of  the 
farmers  have  engaged  in  raising  live  stock,  and  as  a 
consequence,  have  largely  increased  the  acreage  of 
coarser  grain.  Through  the  courtesy  of  James  Tus- 
ler, the  present  assessor,  we  are  able  to  give  the  offi- 
cial statistics  of  the  acreage  of  the  different  agricul- 
tural products  of  the  present  }rear  (1877):  Wheat, 
1,449;  corn,  3,140;  oats,  2,542;  barley,  718;  rye,  117; 
tobacco,  149;  potatoes,  107;  cultivated  grasses,  1,740. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  present  town 
officers:  John  M.  Sampson,  chairman,  Knute H.  Dally, 
and  Josiah  Douglass,  supervisors;  Osman  T.  Olson, 
clerk/  James  Tusler,  assessor/  Shure  Johnson, 
treasurer/  Amos  Prentiss,  justice  of  the  peace. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS KOXBURY.  495 


KOXBURY. 


BY  HON,  JOHN  T.  CLARK. 


Location.  —  This  town  is  situated  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  this  county;  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the 
town  of  West  Point,  in  Columbia  county,  on  the  east 
by  the  town  of  Dane,  on  the  south  by  the  town  of 
Berry,  and  on  the  west  by  the  town  of  Mazomanie 
and  the  town  of  Prairie  du  Sac,  in  Sauk  county.  It 
is  not  quite  a  full  township,  the  Wisconsin  river  cut- 
ting off  the  northwest  corner  of  section  six. 

The  territory  which  now  forms  this  town  was  taken 
from  the  town  of  Dane,  and  the  name  Koxbury  was 
given  to  it  on  a  vote  of  the  residents,  at  the  suggestion 
of  James  Steele,  Esq.,  who  still  resides  there.  At 
the  time  of  its  formation,  which  was  in  the  year  1849, 
all  the  land  lying  west  of  the  present  town  and  east 
of  the  Wisconsin  river  was  attached  to  Roxburv:  but 
in  1863,  the  strip  of  land  last  described  was,  by  an  act 
of  the  legislature,  attached  to  the  town  of  Mazomanie. 

The  first  officers  of  the  town  were:  Burke  Fairchild, 
chairman;  Lorenzo  Fan*  and  Lorenzo  D.  Miller, 
supervisors;  James  Crowder,  town  clerk/  Lorenzo 
Farr,  assessor;  James  Steele,  treasurer;  Z.  Bowers, 
J.  Crowder,  George  Richards  and  B.  Fairchilds,  jus- 
tices of  the  peace.  Not  a  German  in  the  list,  while 
now  none  of  the  town  officer  is  of  any  other  nation- 
ality, unless  lie  be  American  born  of  German  parents. 

Surface  and  Soil.  —  The  surface  is  much  diversi- 


496       DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS — KOYBUKY. 

fiecl.  The  hills  frequently  rise  to  a  great  height,  and 
are  mostly  filled  with  fine  building  stone,  some  of 
which  is  made  into  lime  of  the  best  quality.  Between 
these  hills  or  "bluffs,"  as  they  are  called,  when  of  con- 
siderable height,  the  lands  are  very  fertile.  Some  of 
the  best  wheat  lands  are  on  the  top  of  high  hills. 
The  land  is  what  is  called  openings,  with  here  and 
there  a  few  acres  which  might  be  termed  "  prairie." 

On  sections  one  and  two  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of 
water,  from  its  transparency  called  "  Crystal  Lake." 
The  water  of  this  lake  is  shallow,  extending  into  West 
Point,  and  covers  about  a  section  of  land. 

On  sections  three  and  four  is  another  smaller  lake, 
covering  about  a  half  section  of  land.  This  is  called 
"  Fish  Lake,"  or  "  Clark's  Lake,"  from  the  name  of 
tlie  owner  of  the  land  on  which  it  is  situated.  It  is 
not  known  how  deep  this  lake  is.  It  has  been  sounded 
to  the  depth  of  eighty  feet  and  no  bottom  found. 
These  lakes  are  well  stocked  with  fish.  There  is  also 
another  small  lake  on  sections  fourteen  and  fifteen, 
called  "  Crane  Lake,"  and  in  many  parts  of  the  town 
there  are  ponds  which,  with  springs  here  and  there, 
and  the  "Wisconsin  river,  supply  the  stock  with  water. 

The  people,  who  are  almost  exclusively  Germans, 
are  engaged  in  general  farming  and  grape  raising. 
There  is  no  manufacturing  carried  on,  unless  under 
that  term  wine  making  can  be  included.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  there  are  more  grapes  raised  in  this  town 
than  in  the  rest  of  the  county,  and  perhaps  than  in 
the  whole  state  besides.  Jacob  Kehl,  who  resides  near 
Prairie  du  Sac,  has  the  largest  vineyard.  All  over 
the  town  may  be  found  sunny  slopes  where,  in  the  pro- 
per season,  hang  thousands  of  r'.ch  clusters. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS KOXBUBY.  497 

There  is  no  large  village  or  market  place  in  town. 
Clifton,  situated  on  the  Wisconsin  river  opposite 
Prairie  du  Sac,  and  in  the  very  northwest  corner  of 
the  town,  was  once  a  promising  village,  but  it  has  not 
kept  pace  with  the  growth  of  the  country  about  it. 
In  the  southeast  corner  of  the  town  is  a  small  village 
called  "Alden's  Corners."  Superior  City,  on  the 
Wisconsin  river,  was  one  of  the  earliest  laid  out  towns 
in  the  state,  and  will  be  hereafter  noticed.  The  only 
stores  in  town  are  those  of  B.  Renter,  near  the  church 
and  the  center  of  the  town,  and  of  P.  J.  Schleck,  near 
the  Sauk  City  bridge. 

The  produce  raised  in  this  town  is  marketed  at 
Madison,  Middleton,  Black  Earth,  Mazomanie,  Sauk 
City,  Prairie  du  Sac  (which  is  connected  with  Portage 
by  steam  navigation  on  the  Wisconsin  river),  Lodi, 
Dane  station  and  Waunakee.  All  points  of  the  com- 
pass compete  for  what  the  town  can  raise. 

On  the  21st  day  of  July,  1832,  the  battle  called 
"  the  battle  of  Wisconsin  Heights,"  in  what  is  known 
as  the  Black  Hawk  war,  was  fought  here,  principally 
upon  sections  19  and  24,  and  near  the  present  resi- 
dences of  George  Richards,  Esq.,  and  Richard  Taylor. 
A  painting  of  this  battle  ground,  executed  by  Brooks, 
may  be  seen  at  the  rooms  of  the  State  Historical  So- 
ciety at  Madison.  The  thrashing  machine  represented 
on  this  painting  was  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Richards. 
The  Indians  and  their  pursuers  appear  to  have  come 
over  the  bluff  from  the  southeast.  A  sort  of  running 
fight  was  kept  up  while  the  savages  were  driven 
through  the  vallev,  across  the  lowlands  and  the  Wis- 
cousin  river,  and  so  on  to  Bad  Axe.     Many  human 

bones,  as  well  as  arrow  heads  and  other  paraphernalia 
32 


498  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS ROXBURY. 

of  Indian  warfare  have  been  dug  up  beneath,  or  found 
on  the  surface  of  the  earth  in  this  vicinity. 

Superior  City.  —  One  of  the  earliest,  largest,  and 
most  successful  paper  towns  ever  laid  out  in  the  west, 
was  located  in  this  territory,  now  called  Eoxbury. 
It  was  principally  upon  section  nineteen ;  beginning 
near  the  present  residence  of  P.  J.  Schleck,  Esq.,  ex- 
tending southward  and  down  the  Wisconsin  river,  cov- 
ering the  farm  owned  by  T.  M.  Warren,  Esq.,  and  now 
occupied  by  John  Stein felder,  and  embracing  the  Var- 
nell  place,  spreading  over  more  than  three  hundred 
acres  of  land. 

It  appears  from  all  accounts  that  in  the  year  1837 
or  1838,  a  company  was  formed  in  the  eastern  states, 
of  which  company  one  Floyd  seems  to  have  been  the 
principal  manager,  to  lay  out  a  town  on  the  Wiscon- 
sin river,  either  with  the  honest  expectation  that  such 
town  would  be  built,  and  legitimate  gain  be  made 
thereby  to  the  proprietors,  or  with  the  hope  that  a 
speculation  might  be  made  out  of  such  parties  resid- 
ing at  the  east  as  had  more  money  and  credulity  than 
sound  judgment. 

This,  be  it  remembered,  was  at  a  time  when  such 
device  was  new,  and  no  bubble  of  the  kind  had  ever 
burst  in  the  land. 

The  town  was  christened  "  Superior  City,"  and  a 
most  elegant  map  was  made  of  it,  showing  the  streets, 
the  public  buildings  and  parks,  the  Wisconsin  river 
on  which  steamboats  were  plying  up  and  down,  and 
also  navigating  the  smaller  stream,  a  tributary  com- 
ing down  from  Crane  Lake  by  Father  Inama's  house, 
on  which  stream  splendid  mills  were  represented 
(which  stream,  by  the  way,  is  dry  ten  months  in  the 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS KOXJJUEY.  499 

year),  and  in  general  setting  out  every  convenience, 
elegance  and  attraction  which  could  be  placed  on  paper 
by  the  most  ingenious  Yankee. 

All  in  fact,  which  had  ever  been  done  towards  build- 
ing a  town,  was  to  stake  out  the  streets,  lots,  blocks, 
and  squares,  and  to  fell  some  trees  and  hew  them,  ap- 
parently with  the  intention  of  using  the  timber  in 
building.  This  was  all  that  was  ever  done  in  this 
direction,  unless  perhaps  a  shanty  was  built  for  the 
laborers  who  cut  and  hewed  the  timber. 

The  map  was  taken  to  Chicago,  ISTew  York,  and 
Boston,  accompanied  with  the  most  glowing  descrip- 
tions of  the  beauty,  salubrity  and  commercial  advan- 
tages of  the  city,  and  large  numbers  of  the  lots  were 
sold,  some  at  as  high  figures  as  $800  each.  They  were 
sold,  too,  to  persons  who  had  been  considered  as  of 
sound  mind.  Daniel  Webster,  "  the  Godlike  Daniel," 
is  said  to  have  had  about  $13,000  in  the  great  city. 

After  making  the  maps  and  selling  the  lots,  neither 
the  proprietors,  their  agents,  "nor  any  other  man," 
came  to  build  the  city;  the  timber  was  sold  by  the 
laborers  to  whom  the  company  was  indebted  for  work, 
or  appropriated  by  such  persons  as  thought  they 
needed  it.  The  stakes  have  long  since  fallen,  and  the 
place  which  knew  Superior  City  "  shall  know  it  no 
more  forever." 

Early  Settlement. — In  18-10,  Augustine  Harasz- 
thy,  commonly  known  as  Count  ITaraszthy,  with  his 
cousin  Charles  Hallasz,  the  latter  of  whom  has  ever 
since  resided  and  now  resides  at  what  is  now  called 
Sauk  City,  Hungarians  by  birth,  immigrated  to  and 
located  at  the  place  last  named.  Haraszthy  appears 
to  have  been  a  man  of  great  energy  and  of  considera- 


500  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  KOXBURT. 

ble  means,  and  very  enthusiastic  about  the  future  of 
this  country.  He  invested  at  once  in  lands  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  set  about  improvement.  So  far  as 
can  now  be  ascertained,  in  the  fall  of  1840,  he  erected 
the  first  building  in  this  town,  not  for  a  residence,  but 
as  :i  sort  of  hunting  lodge.  This  was  a  log  building, 
and  was  set  upon  a  point  of  the  bluff  above  and  near 
the  Wisconsin  river,  and  nearly  opposite  the  lumber 
office  of  Mr.  Hallasz,  as  it  now  stands  in  Sauk  City. 

During  the  year  1841,  Haraszthy  established  a  ferry 
across  the  Wisconsin  river  near  or  a  little  below 
where  the  Sauk  City  bridge  now  stands,  and  the  house 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  P.  J.  Schleck,  Esq.,  as  a 
store,  saloon,  and  post  office,  was  built  by  Mr.  Har- 
aszthy in  that  year,  and  used  as  a  ferry  house.  Rob- 
ert Richards  and  Jacob  Fraelich  operated  the  ferry, 
and  resided  in  this  house.  This  is  supposed  to  have 
been  the  first  dwelling  erected  in  town,  and  they  the 
first  residents.  At  this  point  two  or  three  Indian  trails 
met,  and  for  several  years  this  was  the  usual  crossing 
place.  From  this  date  there  was  little  improvement 
in  the  town  for  four  years. 

The  year  1815  determined  in  a  great  degree  the 
nationality  and  religion  of  the  population  of  the  town. 
In  that  year  came  Father  Adelbert  Inama,  a  German 
catholic  priest.  He  had  been  two  years  from  his  na- 
tive land,  and  those  two  years  had  been  passed  in  JSTew 
York.  He  had  come  to  seek  a  home  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  to  plant  and  uphold  here  the  standard  of  the 
cross.  He  selected  for  his  residence  a  most  romantic 
spot;  a  little  ravine  surrounded  by  hills  except  where 
at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  a  stream,  sometimes 
swelling  into  a  torrent,  passes  through.     Here  he  still 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS EOXBUET.  501 

lives,  with  no  house  in  sight  except  his  own,  and  with 
no  clearing  except  a  good  sized  garden.  His  cows 
pasture  through  the  woods,  and  he  keeps  no  horse, 
preferring  to  walk  wherever  his  duty  has  called  him. 
Here  in  1845,  he  built  his  log  cabin,  which  looks  out 
toward  the  midday  sun.  Directly  in  the  rear  rises  a 
steep  bluff  covered  with  timber.  You  approach  the 
dwelling  across  a  foot  bridge  over  the  ravine  down 
which  heavy  rains  and  melting  snows  hurl  their  floods 
to  the  river.  After  a  time  he  adds  at  the  west  end  of 
his  cabin  a  kitchen,  using  his  room  first  built  for  all 
the  purposes  of  his  priestly  office.  His  work  grew 
upon  his  hands,  and  he  joined  to  the  east  end  of  his 
original  building  an  audience  room  and  an  altar,  the 
two  forming  his  chapel,  which,  surmounted  by  a  cross, 
is  still  standing,  and  in  which  chapel,  till  1853,  mass 
was  said  every  day. 

"When  Father  Inama  came,  there  was  but  one  cath- 
olic in  what  is  now  Roxbury;  that  was  one  Matthias 
Schmidt,  and  he  soon  left.  The  lone  priest  made  great 
efforts  to  induce  immigration.  He  entered  a  consid- 
erable  amount  of  land  near  the  center  of  the  town, 
and  allowed  those  coming  in  to  take  it  at  government 
price.  As  a  matter  of  course  the  new  comers  were 
catholic  Germans,  and  the  diligent  pastor  soon  found 
a  flock  gathering  about  him.  His  little  chapel  in  the 
ravine  was.  visited  by  those  of  his  faith  from  all  the 
country  round.  All  nationalities,  and  even  some  In- 
dians who  had  been  converted  through  the  labors  of 
the  early  missionaries,  were  glad  to  find  this  lonely 
spot  where  they  could  receive  the  rites  and  enjoy  the 
privileges  of  their  mother  church. 

So  one  family  after  another  came,  either  directly 


502  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  KOXBUKY. 

from  Fatherland  or  from  the  states,  until  in  the  year 
1853,  the  society  was  able  to  complete,  near  the  center 
of  the  town,  the  little  red  brick  church,  21  by  80  feet 
in  size,  which  now  stands  in  the  rear  of  the  stone 
building,  and  is  occupied  by  the  altar.  The  growth 
of  the  society  continued  until  in  1860  it  embraced 
from  sixty  to  seventy  families,  and  the  little  brick 
church  having  become  quite  too  small,  they  enclosed 
the  present  stone  front,  41  by  50  feet  in  size.  This, 
with  the  old  church,  was  used  but  not  finished  within, 
till  1866.  This  society  has  continued  to  increase  un- 
til now  it  embraces  over  one  hundred  families.  They 
have  commenced  a  second  addition  to  the  church,  the 
foundations  of  which  are  already  laid,  and  when  com- 
plete they  will  have  a  magnificent  edifice.  The  plan 
provides  for  the  removal  of  the  little  old  brick  church 
in  the  rear,  extending;  the  stone  building  until  its 
length  shall  be  110  feet,  and  adding  wings  so  that 
when  finished  the  building  will  stand  on  the  ground 
in  the  form  of  a  cross. 

Mention  should  be  made  of  the  fact  that  this 
church  has  above  its  altar  what  is  considered  one  of 
the  finest  paintings  in  America.  It  is  large;  there 
are  five  figures  upon  it.  Above  are  the  Yirgin  and 
Child,  two  beautiful  forms;  below,  on  the  left,  is  St. 
Jerome,  and  on  the  right  are  St.  James  and  St.  ]STor- 
bert,  after  the  latter  of  whom  the  church  is  named, 
and  who  is  represented  with  the  features  of  Louis  I, 
king  of  Bavaria.  This  choice  painting  was  executed 
by  an  artist  in  Munich,  in  1859,  and  was  sent  by  said 
king,  as  a  present  to  this  church,  in  1860. 

This  is  the  only  church  edifice  in  town,  though 
th^ere  are  a  few  members  of  other  church  organizations. 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS ROXBURY.  503 

Connected  with  the  church  just  described,  in  a  com- 
modious stone  building,  is  a  school,  taught  by  "  sis- 
ters," where  the  children  and  youth  are  instructed  in 
the  doctrines  and  faith  of  their  fathers.  The  town 
has  no  other  school  except  the  common  district 
schools,  for  which  there  are  several  fine  buildings. 

Father  Inama  is  now  in  his  80th  year.  He  has 
served  this  church  and  the  country  round  about  since 
1S45,  assisted  only  for  a  time  by  Father  Max  Gard- 
ner, until  1872,  when  he  was  relieved  by  Father  Mat- 
thias Heigl,  a  young  man  of  fine  talents  and  educa- 
tion, of  preposessing  personal  appearance  and  cultiva- 
ted manners,  who  now  performs  the  duties  of  pastor 
to  this  lar^e  congregation. 

Father  Inama  born  in  Tyrol  in  1T98,  having 
spent  five  years  in  Botzen,  devoted  to  the  study  of 
the  classics,  four  years  in  Innspruch,  given  to  litera- 
ture and  philosophy;  to  theology  one  year  in  Vienna, 
two  years  in  Innspruch  and  one  in  Trent,  speak- 
ing with  fluency  several  languages,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years,  having  ministered  in  the  same 
town  for  thirty  years,  and  having  been  largely  instru- 
mental in  settling  that  town,  and  in  promoting  its 
prosperity,  respected  and  honored  by  men  of  all  class- 
es and  religions,  and  of  no  religion,  retires  to  spend 
the  remnant  of  his  days  in  his  vine  covered  cottage, 
surrounded  by  flowers;  in  his  little  chapel  daily  offer- 
ing prayers  for  his  beloved  congregation,  with  eyes 
scarcely  dimmed  or  strength  abated,  calmly  awaits 
the  summons  of  his  Maker. 

The  same  year  in  which  Father  Inama  settled  in 
Roxbury,  also  came  George  Richards,  Adolph  Fas- 
binder,    Carl  Schugart,   Richard  Taylor,  —  Weber, 


501  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  ROXBUKY. 

—  Campbell,  James  Crowder  and  Burke  Faircliilds. 
In  184:6  came  Anton  Ganser,  T.  M.  Warren,  George 
Baltis,  Nicholas  Breckendorf,  Michel  Michel,  Michael 
Loeser,  Conrad  Jordan,  and  perhaps  others. 

From  that  time  the  population  increased  rapidly, 
until  from  almost  every  valley  and  hilltop  rose  the 
smoke  of  a  I02;  cabin.  The  few  Americans  who  were 
among  the  early  settlers  have  mostly  disposed  of  their 
property  to  the  Germans,  until  so  far  as  the  language 
spoken  and  heard  in  this  town  is  concerned,  one  might 
as  well  be  in  Deutchland.  The  population  at  the 
census  taken  in  1875,  was  1,151. 

The  inhabitants  are  generally  industrious,  econom- 
ical and  thrifty.  There  is  almost  no  litigation  in  the 
town.  There  is  scarcely  any  crime  to  be  punished, 
and  the  public  peace  is  not  often  disturbed.  On  spec- 
ial occasions,  King  Lager  in  some  cases  prevails  over 
sobriety,  and  black  e}res  and  bloody  noses  abound;  but 
the  next  day  all  are  at  work,  some,  perhaps,  with  aching 
heads,  but  such  trifles  are  never  brought  into  court. 
The  next  Sunday  all  are  at  church  and  in  peace. 

The  town  is  rapidly  improving;  the  waste  places 
are  being  cleared  out  and  brought  under  cultivation; 

CD  CD 

the  log  cabins  are  fast  disappearing,  and  in  their 
places  are  rising  good,  substantial  buildings,  mostly 
of  stone,  and  on  every  side  are  found  the  evidences  of 
permanent  prosperity. 

Thanks  are  due  for  information  touching  the  early 
history  and  settlement  of  the  town  to  Charles  Hal- 
lasz,  Esq.,  of  Sauk  City,  James  Crowder,  now  of 
Lodi,  to  Father  Inama,  and  to  George  Richards, 
Anton  Ganser  and  Horace  Miller,  Esqrs.,  of  Roxbury. 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS OREGON.  505 


OREGON. 

BY  DR.  I.  HOWE. 

Township  No.  5  north,  range  9  east  of  the  4th 
principal  meridian,  is  situated  in  the  center  of  the 
southern  tier  of  townships  in  the  county  of  Dane. 
The  surface  is  undulating,  and  was,  in  the  state  of 
nature,  covered  with  burr  and  white  oak  openings, 
with  a  few  small  prairies  and  marshes.  The  soil  is 
good  for  most  agricultural  products,  but  is  not  rated 
first  class  in  the  county.  There  are  four  small  creeks, 
outlets  to  the  same  number  of  springs,  two  of  which 
are  on  section  12,  forming  the  head  waters  of  the  Bad- 
fish,  and  one  each  on  sections  18  and  20. 

Bartley  Runey  built  the  first  cabin  in  the  township, 
in  the  fall  of  1841,  and  moved  his  family,  consisting 
of  his  wife,  three  boys  and  four  girls,  into  it  in  the 
spring  of  1842,  and  opened  a  tavern.  It  was  located 
on  section  24,  near  the  junction  of  the  mail  route 
from  Madison  to  Janesville  and  the  road  from  Min- 
eral Point  to  Milwaukee,  known  as  the  "  old  lead 
route."  It  was  a  favorite  stopping  place  for  the 
teamsters  hauling  that  mineral,  and  many  an  old  pi- 
oneer has  seen  from  ten  to  fourteen  yoke  of  oxen  pull- 
ing one  stalled  wagon  out  of  the  mud  near  the  pioneer 
tavern.  His  nearest  neighbor  was  "Win.  Quivey,  in 
town  0,  range  9.  Mr.  Runey  was  a  man  of  great  en- 
ergy, but  lived  only  two  or  three  years  after  settling 
here.  His  son  Garrett  now  occupies  the  old  home- 
stead, and  few  landmarks  remain  to  mark  the  site  of 
the  once  famous  tavern. 


506  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  OREGON. 

The  next  settler  was  Robert  Thompson,  who  locat- 
ed, and,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Runey  and  boys, 
built  a  cabin  on  section  12,  near  a  beautiful  spring 
which  bears  his  name.  The  log  house  is  there  in  good 
preservation,  and  the  spring,  as  if  in  mockery  of  the 
decrepitude  that  has  overtaken  the  young  and  robust 
pioneer,  still  bubbles  and  sparkles  in  perennial  youth. 
At  the  close  of  1842,  Mr.  Runey  and  family  and  Mr. 
Thompson  were  the  only  residents  in  the  township. 

In  1813,  the  number  was  increased  by  the  settle- 
ment of  Stephen  Hook,  who  located  on  section  27, 
and  Thomas  Hook,  his  brother;  also,  C.  Sargeant,  on 
section  31,  where  he  still  resides,  Abram  Kierstead 
and  family,  consisting  of  his  wife,  two  sons  and  three 
daughters  who  in  a  few  years  were  married  respect- 
ively to  three  prominent  young  jnoneers,  viz.:  Hon. 
S.  G.  Abbott,  Hon.  I.  M.  Bennett  and  Wm.  S.  Bed- 
ford, Esq.  G.  P.  Moseley  settled  that  year  on  the 
present  site  of  the  village  of  Oregon,  built  a  cabin  — 
partly  frame  and  partly  logs — and  opened  a  tavern. 
This  log  tavern  was  the  nucleus  of  the  present  thriv- 
ing village.  Horace  Watrous  settled  on  section  1, 
and  built  a  loo;  house.  Eli  Root  made  a  claim  on  the 
same  section,  but  soon  left.  Thus  ended  the  pion- 
eer settlement  for  1813. 

This  number  was  enlarged  in  the  year  1811  by  the 
arrival  of  Reuben  Boyce  and  family,  who  settled  on 
section  36,  where  his  son  Reuben  still  resides.  In  a 
few  days  after  his  arrival,  several  members  of  his  fam- 
ily  were  prostrated,  by  ship  fever,  of  which  two  of  his 
children  died  —  the  first  deaths  in  the  township. 

Mr.  Boyce  was  highly  respected  by  the  early  set- 
tlers.    His  influence  was  large  and  always  exerted  for 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS OREGON.  507 

their  best  interests.  ¥m.  S.  Bedford  located  about 
the  same  time,  on  section  35,  Stoddard  Johnson  on 
section  1,  and  Vra.  Cnmmings  on  section  10,  who 
built  a  cabin.  Mrs.  Cnmmings  killed  a  large  deer 
which  had  been  driven  into  the  door  yard  and  canght 
by  the  dogs.  She  achieved  a  victory,  but  rumor  hath, 
it  that  in  the  struggle  she  lost  nearly  all  the  drapery 
with  which  woman  delights  to  adorn  herself.  At  any 
rate,  she  beat  a  hasty  retreat  on  the  approach  of  the 
young  and  blushing  Joseph  G.  Fox,  and  would  only 
speak  to  him  through  a  chink  in  the  door. 

W.  F.  Lee  and  Schuyler  Gilbert  came  in  this  year. 
Mr.  Gilbert  located  on  section  10,  and  still  owns  un- 
der his  patent.  S.  J.  Pratt  came  in  September,  the 
same  year.  Landing  in  Milwaukee,  he  started  on  foot 
and  alone  across  lots,  and  crying,  "to  find  a  home." 
Arriving  at  Runey's  in  a  few  days,  he  located  his 
present  homestead,  and  now  four  generations  fre- 
quently gather  under  his  roof-tree. 

About  the  same  time,  John  S.  Frary  arrived  in 
Milwaukee.  Hardly  had  he  stepped  on  shore  when 
he  was  accosted  by  a  stranger:  "  Do  you  want  to  go 
west,  young  man?"  "West!"  cried  the  weary  and 
homesick  John;  "west!  for  eighteen  long  days  and 
nights  have  I  sought  the  west  on  the  fastest  convey- 
ances the  country  affords,  and  if  you  have  anything 
further  west,  commend  me  to  the  first  boat  going 
east"  But  he  changed  his  mind,  came  with  the 
stranger,  and  in  a  short  time  was  building  his  cabin 
on  section  24.  1844  closed  with  less  than  a  dozen 
structures  to  shelter  a  civilized  man  in  the  township. 

In  1815,  the  township  rapidly  settled  up.  R.  Un- 
derwood, wife  and  two  sons — John  and  Henry  —  lo- 


508  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  OREGON. 

cated  on  section  3.  John  still  holds  his  parchment 
title;  Ira  Hays  and  two  sons  —  Enos  and  Plympton 
—  on  section  5;  R.  P.  Main  on  section  24,  and  six 
brothers,  by  the  name  of  Devine,  on  section  23.  They 
deserve  a  far  more  extended  notice  than  the  space  al- 
lotted the  writer  will  permit.  Joseph  Algard  and 
famihy  settled  on  section  17;  Harry  Brown  and  John 
Ellsworth  on  section  9,  and  ¥m.  De  Boise  on  section 
8;  Amasa  Salisbury  on  section  1;  Rufus  Rawson  on 
section  12,  where  he  built  the  first  blacksmith  shop. 
Dick  Castleman  has  the  credit  also  of  building  this 
first  shop. 

In  1845,  Nathaniel  Ames,  three  sons  and  one  grand- 
son-— J.  IN".  Ames  —  settled  in  the  township.  Mr. 
Ames  was  born  in  1761,  joined  the  revolutionary 
army,  saw  Washington  when  he  visited  the  winter 
quarters  of  his  arm}7  near  Morristown,  1ST.  J.,  witnessed 
the  execution  of  Major  Andre,  and  died  in  Oregon 
August  27,  1863,  at  the  great  age  of  one  hundred  and 
two  years  and  four  months.  When  asked  by  one  of 
his  neighbors  to  what  he  ascribed  his  long  life,  he 
quietly  and  philosophically  replied:  "  I  have  always 
slept  well." 

Rev.  Matthew  A.  Fox  came  in  August,  1845,  and 
a  few  clays  after,  held  his  first  service  in  the  log  cabin 
of  Mrs.  Kelloo-a*,  the  occasion  being  the  funeral  of 
her  husband.  His  next  service  was  in  the  bar  room 
of  C  P.  Moseley's  tavern.  In  1856,  the  first  church 
was  built,  and  he  was  installed  as  pastor,  which  posi- 
tion he  has  acceptably  and  usefully  filled  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  The  church  stands  within  a  few  rods  of  the 
cabin  in  which  he  performed  his  first  sorrowful  ser- 
vice.    Many  of  his  early  pioneer  friends  have  been 


DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS  —  OREGON.        509 

carried  through  its  portals  to  their  last  resting  place, 
for  whom  he  has  performed  a  like  sad  service,  and  it 
seems  as  though  his  labors  might  end  almost  on  the 
spot  where  they  commenced. 

J.  W.  Scovill  opened  the  first  store  in  the  township, 
in  the  fall  of  1845,  on  section  21,  or  the  "Hollow." 
He  chopped  the  logs,  split  the  puncheons  for  the  floor 
and  rived  the  shakes  himself.  After  it  was  raised  and 
completed,  he  went  to  Racine  for  his  stock.  During 
his  absence,  Mrs.  Scovill  papered  it  throughout  with 
Albany  Evening  Journals.  How  the  heart  of  the  ven- 
erable j'T.  W."  would  swell  to  know  his  paper  had 
served  so  good  a  purpose!  The  enterprising  young 
merchant,  by  thus  surrounding  his  customers  with 
sound  Whig  doctrine,  insensibly  led  them  to  vote  that 
ticket,  and  from  its  organization  the  town  has  been 
"Whig  or  Republican  by  large  and  uninterrupted  ma- 
iorities.  What  might  have  been  the  result  had  the 
good  lady  used  the  Albany  Argus? 

Rosel  Babbitt  and  Seba  T.  Lewis  opened  farms  this 
year  on  sections  14  and  15.  Mr.  Lewis  was  accident- 
ally killed  in  his  well  by  the  fall  of  a  bucket.  Eph- 
raim  Newton  and  perhaps  two  or  three  others  located 
in  1845. 

Joseph  G.  Fox  returned  from  Ireland  with  his  young 
bride  in  the  fall  of  1845  and  commenced  housekeeping 
in  the  first  frame  house  in  the  township.  He  had  it 
erected  during  his  absence.  His  brother  James  set- 
tled near  him  about  the  same  time.  At  the  close  of 
1845,  pioneer  life  in  the  township  was  about  closed. 
Mills  were  being  erected  on  the  Catfish  and  Sugar 
rivers,  post  offices  conveniently  established,  merchants 
and  mechanics  commencing  business,  roads  laid  out 


510        DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS  —  OREGON. 

and  bridges  built,  and  the  gospel  preached  by  numer- 
ous missionaries  who  heard  with  delight  the  crowing 
of  the  unwary  spring  chicken. 

The  glowing  descriptions  of  the  salubrious  climate, 
fertile,  soil  and  abundance  of  game,  sent  through  the 
mail  or  carried  by  those  returning  for  their  families 
or  sweethearts,  produced  its  effect  in  1846  and  7,  and 
friends,  relatives  and  neighbors  hastened  to  possess 
the  remaining  unoccupied  lands.  All  the  conveniences 
of  older  settlements  were  here,  or  in  the  near  future, 
except  a  market,  and  they  cared  little  for  that  in  com- 
parison with  the  prosperity  that  surely  awaited  them. 
With  strong  hearts  and  willing  hands  they  toiled  on, 
and  are  to-day  reaping  the  rewards  of  their  enterprise 
and  self-denial.  During  these  years,  among  those  who 
came  to  stay,  are  L.  M.  Storey,  T.  Storey,  Samuel 
Shepard,  Smith  Patchin  and  Daniel  McKeeby.  They 
settled  near  together,  and  the  settlement  was  called 
Storeytown.  E.  W.  Dwight,  Phineas  Baldwin,  father 
and  three  brothers,  came  still  later.  In  1846,  I.  M. 
Bennett  opened  a  store  in  "  Pome  Corners,"  and  laid 
the  foundations  of  his  large  fortune,  and  a  few  years 
later  Wm.  S.  Bedford  engaged  in  the  same  business. 

The  first  marriage  solemnized  in  the  township  was 
in  the  first  log  house  built  therein;  the  happy  parties 
being  David  Anthony  and  Jane  Puney.  A  Pev.  Mr. 
Miner,  of  Madison,  performed  the  ceremony.  On  his 
way  to  Mr.  Puney 's,  his  horse  got  mired  in  the  Nine 
Spring  creek.  Unable  to  extricate  him,  he  started  on 
foot  to  fulfill  his  agreement.  At  Lake  Yiew  he  sent 
assistance  to  his  horse,  which  was  found  dead.  Wearily 
walking  on,  he  reached  Mr.  Runey's  about  11  o'clock 
at  night,  wet,  muddy  and  exhausted.     He  performed 


DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS  —  OREGON.        511 

his  work  so  well,  however,  that  David  and  Jane  to-daj 
enjoy  a  well  earned  competence  in  peace  and  content- 
ment. The  first  piece  of  cloth  was  woven  by  Mrs. 
Sophia  Underwood,  who  now  lives  with  her  son  Hen- 
ry, on  a  loom  made  by  Enos  Hays,  the  first  of  its  kind 
in  the  township.  The  first  public  religious  service 
was  held  in  Barney's  bar  room,  by  a  Methodist  mis- 
sionary by  the  name  of  Hawks;  and  the  first  parties 
to  a  law  suit  were  J.  S.  Frary  vs.  B.  Buney. 

In  this  narative,  the  writer  has  found  no  place  to 
speak  of  the  real  pioneers  of  the  present  town  of  Or- 
egon —  the  noble  band  of  women  who  came  with  or 
followed  their  husbands  and  lovers  to  this  wilderness. 
They  suffered  the  real  hardships  and  privations  of 
pioneer  life.  They,  unmindful  of  storms  without  or 
minor  distress  within,  gathered  little  delicacies  and 
needful  articles,  and  visited  and  assisted  the  sick  and 
suffering,  though  frequently  miles  away.  Every  old 
settler's  memory  is  filled  with  recollections  of  their 
gentleness,  their  kindness,  their  charity.  Many  of 
them  have  found  the  repose  of  death,  but  those  who 
live  are  thrice  blessed  by  those  who  received  and  now 
live  to  testify  to  their  noble  and  unselfish  labor. 

The  political  history  of  the  township  is  short.  To 
gratify  the  young  and  enthusiastic  pioneers'  longing 
for  ballot-boxing,  towns  5  and  6  of  range  9,  and  town 
6  of  range  10,  were  formed  into  an  election  precinct 
in  1846,  and  at  the  suggestion  of  J.  N.  Ames,  was 
called  Koine,  from  which  fact  the  present  village  of 
Oregon  was  then  called  "  Borne  Corners."  In  1847, 
Bosel  Babbitt  circulated  a  petition  for  separate  town- 
ship organization  under  the  name  of  Oregon,  which  was 
adopted  at  the  town  meeting  held  in  April,  and  Beii- 


512  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  — OREGON. 

ben  Boyce  elected  chairman.  Then  "  local  self  gov- 
ernment" became  fairly  established,  and  as  it  consists 
mainly  in  electing  officers  and  paying  taxes,  the  ballot- 
boxing  pioneer  has  no  reason  to  regret  his  work,  if  its 
success  is  measured  by  the  numbers  of  the  one  or  the 
magnitude  of  the  other. 

OREGON BY    T.    E.    THOMPSON. 

This  pleasant  little  village  of  about  500  inhabitants 
is  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  fertile  agricultural  region, 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  ten  miles  from  the 
capital  city,  and  is  the  second  station  on  the  Madison 
division  of  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railroad. 
A  drive  on  the  highway  through  Lake  View  to  the 
City  of  the  Lakes  in  summer  is  most  delightful.  Green 
meadows  and  waving  fields  of  grain  are  seen  on  every 
side,  and  neat  white  farm  houses  dot  the  landscape  in 
every  direction;  and  here  and  there  are  to  be  seen  a 
few  of  the  ancient  landmarks  of  the  mound  builders, 
some  still  intact,  while  others  have  lost  their  distinct- 
ness by  being  put  to  useful  purposes  by  the  husband- 
man, to  which  occasional  glimpses  of  the  glistening 
waters  of  the  lakes  Waubesa,  Monona  and  Mendota, 
and  the  city  in  the  distance  with  its  Capitol,  Univer- 
sity, Churches  and  other  public  buildings  are  brought 
into  view,  presenting  to  the  traveler  a  scene  of  pastoral 
beauty  unsurpassed  in  the  state. 

The  first  settlement  of  this  town  begun  in  about  the 
year  1842,  thirty-six  years  ago.  Prominent  among 
the  first  settlers  may  be  mentioned  C.  P.  Moseley, 
Robert  Thompson,  J.  S.  Frary,  S.  J.  Pratt,  Abraham 
Kiersterd,  W.  S.  Bedford,  Roswell  Babbitt,  Phineas 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  OREGON.  513 

Baldwin,    E.    P.    Main    and   E.    "W.    Dwiffht.      The 

Boyces,  Tipples,  Johnsons,  Hooks  and  Foxes  were  all 
pioneers  and  early  identified  with  its  history,  having 
witnessed  its  gradual  development  and  improvement 
np  to  the  present  time. 

The  surface  of  the  country  is  slightly  undulating, 
with  a  good  soil  of  sandy  loam,  specially  adapted  for 
agricultural  purposes,  consisting  chiefly  of  oak  open- 
ings, diversified  by  small  prairies  and  marshes. 

The  little  settlement  first  took  the  name  of  Rome 
Corners,  being  a  central  point  of  the  surrounding 
towns,  which  were  known  only  by  numbers,  as  town 
No.  4,  6,  etc. 

I.  M.  Bennett,  now  of  the  banking  firm  of  Bennett 
&  Pullen,  of  Evausville,  Wisconsin,  kept  the  first 
country  store  in  a  little  log  building  where  now  stands 
the  Oregon  Exchange,-  and  which  was  the  objective 
point  of  trade  for  the  scattered  settlers.  J.  B.  Runey, 
one  of  the  oldest  pioneers,  settled  near  the  center  of 
the  township  in  the  spring  of  1842,  and  built  the  first 
log  house  on  the  old  territorial  road  running  from 
the  lead  regions  near  Dodge ville  to  Milwaukee,  and 
which  was  a  stopping  place  for  teamsters  drawing  lead 
to  market.  The  nearest  house  was  five  miles  distant, 
in  what  is  now  known  as  the  town  of  Fitchburg,  and 
wTas  also  kept  as  a  tavern  by  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Quivey.  Mr.  Runey  was  killed  a  few  years  later 
while  returning  home  from  Madison,  by  the  overturn- 
ing of  his  wagon  near  the  Nine  Spring  marsh,  on 

what  was  afterwards  called  Break  Neck  Hill.     The 
33 


514  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS OREGON. 

Devines,  a  family  of  six  brothers,  emigrated  from 
Pennsylvania  about  the  year  1845,  and  settled  together 
near  the  center  of  the  town,  and  are  now  thrifty  and 
prosperous  farmers.  Mr.  Joseph  Devine  at  one  time 
traveled  with  an  ox  team  as  far  as  Delavan  to  mill, 
sixty  miles  distant,  and  frequently  to  Janesville,  at  a 
later  period.  There  were  no  other  mills  in  that  sec- 
tion, with  the  exception  of  the  Badger  Mills,  where  a 
small  business  was  done.  The  nearest  market  was  at 
Milwaukee,  ninety  miles  distant,  a  trip  with  an  ox 
team  consuming  ten  to  twelve  days,  the  teamsters 
often  camping  by  the  roadside.  Wheat  only  brought 
from  20  to  25  cents  per  bushel.  Dressed  pork,  $1.25 
per  hundred  pounds,  and  frequently  the  proceeds  of 
the  sale  would  not  amount  to  more  than  the  expenses 
of  transportation.  A  story  is  told  of  a  man  who  hired 
a  load  of  wheat  taken  to  market,  agreeing  to  pay 
twenty  cents  per  bushel  transportation.  When  the 
teamster  returned  he  asked  his  employer  if  he  had  a 
quarter  of  a  dollar,  remarking  as  he  received  it,  "  Now 
that  makes  you  and  me  square."  The  load  of  grain 
did  not  pay  the  expense  of  transportation.  Almost 
the  only  way  that  anything  could  be  realized  from  a 
trip,  was  to  bring  back  emigrants  or  a  little  merchan- 
dise for  the  country  stores  along  the  route. 

Nathaniel  Ames,  for  two  years  and  a  half  a  soldier 
of  the  Revolution,  and  present  at  Tarrytown  at  the 
execution  of  Major  Andre,  and  whose  portrait  adorns 
the  State  Historical  rooms,  settled  here  at  an  early 
period,  and  also  many  of  his  descendants.     He  died 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS OREGON.  515 

August  27,  1863,  at  the  advanced  age  of  102  years, 
and  was  buried  with  Masonic  honors. 

The  business  transacted  in  this  town  is  quite  large, 
it  being  the  nucleus  of  trade  for  a  considerable  sec- 
tion of  country  around,  and  is  an  extensive  ship- 
ping point  for  live  stock  to  the  Chicago  market,  the 
shipments  exceeding  those  of  any  other  station  be- 
tween there  and  Chicago.  During  the  shipping  sea- 
son twenty- seven  car  loads  of  stock  have  been  shipped 
in  one  day,,  but  the  usual  number  is  about  fifteen  per 
week.  It  was  at  one  time  a  great  market  for  wheat, 
as  many  as  100  car  loads  being  shipped  monthly. 
The  grain  shipments  are  now  confined  mostly  to  oats, 
of  which  a  great  many  are  received  at  this  station. 
A  fine  brickyard,  owned  by  J.  B.  Munger,  is  in  suc- 
cessful operation,  and  where  are  manufactured  a  supe- 
rior quality  of  white  brick,  said  to  be  equal  to  the 
famous  Milwaukee  brick,  large  shipments  being  made 
annually  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  There  are  two 
hotels,  the  Oregon  Exchange  being  the  principal  one, 
kept  by  Richard  Chandler,  familiarly  and  widely 
known  by  his  friends  as  "Dick,"  is  one  of  the  best 
country  hotels  in  the  state,  and  travelers  find  here  a 
comfortable  and  home-like  stopping  place,  with  a 
genial  host  ever  ready  to  minister  to  the  wants  and 
comfort  of  his  guests.  The  religious  element  is  rep- 
resented by  two  churches,  one  of  the  Presbyterian 
and  the  other  of  the  Methodist  denomination,  presided 
over  by  able  pastors.  There  is  also  a  fine  school  build- 
ing consisting  of  four  departments,  in  charge  of  capa- 


51G        DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS — OREGON. 

ble  and  efficient  teachers,  and  a  Masonic  and  Good 
Templars  Lodge,  both  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

The  pioneer  meeting  and  pic  nic  here  in  July,  1875, 
was  a  gratifying  success  in  every  particular,  it  being 
the  first  assemblage  of  the  kind  ever  held  in  this  sec- 
tion.  Fully  four  thousand  people  were  in  attendance 
from  the  surrounding  towns  and  villages.  The  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  and  other  distinguished  personages 
arrived  on  the  morning  train  from  Madison,  and 
were  welcomed  by  a  large  concourse  of  the  tillers  of 
the  soil,  with  music  and  banners.  At  about  ten 
o'clock,  a  large  procession  was  formed  with  a  detach- 
ment of  horsemen  in  front,  followed  by  every  con 
ceivable  kind  and  description  of  vehicle,  loaded  with 
sturdy  yeomarry,  taking  up  its  line  of  march  to  a 
beautiful  grove  near  the  village,  where  appropriate 
exercises  were  held,  consisting  of  music,  and  short 
speeches  commemorative  of  the  early  settlement  of 
the  country. 

A  prominent  feature  of  the  procession  were  the  ox 
teams  drawing  full  loads  of  pioneers,  with  their  wives 
and  blooming  daughters.  To  one  was  attached  a  sled, 
used  by  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  when  he  first  came 
into  the  country,  upon  which  were  seated  the  wife 
and  two  grandchildren.  In  one  of  the  wagons  drawn 
by  oxen,  was  the  governor  and  other  invited  guests. 
The  weather  was  most  auspicious,  and  every  one 
seemed  happy  and  determined  to  make  happy  all 
those  around  them.  At  the  close  of  the  day,  the  ex- 
pression  was  universal  that  it  was  the  most  social  and 


DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS OREGON.        517 

enjoyable  gathering  ever  brought  together,  and  an 
event  long  to  be  remembered  in  the  history  of  Oregon. 
Among  the  business  establishments  may  be  enu- 
merated the  following:  Shepherd  &  Tracy,  dealers  in 
dry  goods,  groceries  and  general  merchandise;  C.  W. 
Netherwood,  postmaster,  and  proprietor  of  Nether- 
wood's  Hall,  a  commodious  hall  used  for  lectures,  the- 
atrical entertainments  and  balls ;  Isaac  Howe,  groceries, 
drugs  and  medicines;  J.  T.  Hayes,  harness  maker,  has 
an  extensive  establishment,  and  does  a  large  business 
in  his  various  lines;  Mrs.  A.  P.  Johnson,  milliner;  C. 
H.  Cronk,  station  agent;  J.  W.  Scoville,  dealer  in  dry 
goods,  groceries,  crockery  and  glassware;  M.  C.  Sal- 
mon, furniture;  F.  W.  Coward,  boot  and  shoemaker; 
T.  Boyd  Cowdry,  merchant  tailor  and  dealer  in  gen- 
tlemen's furnishing  goods;  J.  M.  Doolittle,  meat 
market;  C.  E.  Powers,  restaurant  and  confectionery; 
A.  B.  Marvin,  grain  and  poultry  dealer;  Gr.  W.  Getz, 
wagon  and  carriage  maker;  Lindsay  &  Terwilliger, 
dealers  in  dry  goods,  groceries,  yankee  notions,  etc.; 
F.  D.  Powers,  attorney;  E.  L.  Booth,  boot  and  shoe 
maker;  Miss  O.  M.  Postle,  milliner  and  dress" maker; 
H.  B.  Richards,  grain  dealer;  AVm.  H.  Myers,  car- 
riage maker;  J.  H.  Coward,  boot  and  shoe  maker;  A. 
W.  Herbert,  spring  bed  factory;  Johnson  &  Beckley, 
milliners  and  dressmakers;  Isaac  Johnson,  confection- 
ery, flour  and  feed;  H.  PI.  Marvin,  dealer  in  hard- 
ware, tin  ware  and  agricultural  implements;  Tipple 
&  Emmons,  stock  buyers;  Lovejoy  &  Richards,  lum- 
ber dealers;    Algard  &  Chandler,  stock  buyers;  P. 


518        DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS  —  OKEGON. 

Hayes,  proprietor  of  the  Oregon  Hotel,  opposite  the 
depot.  There  are  also  two  physicians,  an  insurance 
agent,  three  blacksmith  shops,  and  a  livery  establish- 
ment. 

The  hardy  pioneers  who  suffered  all  the  pnvations 
and  hardships  attending  the  settlement  of  a  new  coun- 
try, and  who  have  witnessed  its  gradual  growth  and 
development,  now  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  labor,  as 
the  well  cultivated  farms  and  comfortable  homes 
attest  their  growing  prosperity  and  happiness. 


DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS BLACK  EARTH.     519 


BLACK  EARTH. 

BY  CLARENCE  BURNETT  AND  A.  J.  FULLERTON. 

JSTot  a  very  remarkable  village;  yet,  from  its  pic- 
turesque appearance,  nestling  between  huge  chains  of 
bluffs,  its  cosy  dwellings,  its  excellent  water  power, 
and  its  sprightly  business  aspect,  is  one  to  excite  in  the 
mind  of  the  visitor  a  desire  to  know  something  of  its 
history.     Hence  this  sketch. 

The  ground  it  now  occupies  was  formerly  the  home 
of  the  "Winnebago  Indians.  They  were  a  peaceable 
tribe,  and  gave  very  little  annoyance,  save  by  their 
incessant  begging,  and  their  propensity  for  "  borrow- 
ing." Many  amusing  anecdotes  are  told  of  them  by 
early  settlers,  but  our  limited  space  forbids  their  men- 
tion. The  region  abounds  in  Indian  mounds;  but 
perhaps  the  most  remarkable  among  them  is  that  just 
south  of  the  village,  which  represents  the  prostrate 
form  of  a  human  being,  and  is  several  rods  in  length. 
It  is  supposed  to  mark  the  last  resting  place  of  one  of 
their  numerous  chiefs. 

About  1842  Solomon  Hayden  made  his  appearance 
upon  the  site  which  is  now  known  as  JBlack  Earth. 
"With  him  he  brought  one  Charles  Turk,  and  they 
commenced  the  toilsome  work  of  rearing  a  home  and 
clearing  ground  upon  which  to  raise  such  articles  as 
are  necessary  to  existence.     Mr.  H.  has  the  credit  of 


520  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLACK    EARTH. 

building  tlie  first  house  within  the  present  township 
limits.  It  was  a  primitive  structure,  such  as  all  of 
us  are  more  or  less  familiar  with,  and  such  as  to-day 
would  seem  impossible  to  class  among  what  are 
known  as  residences.  But  in  those  days  a  house  was 
valued  more  for  the  shelter  it  gave  than  for  its  comely 
appearance.  It  occupied  a  spot  of  ground  just 
south  of  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  John  Hill. 

Just  previous  to  the  building  of  Mr.  Hayden's 
house  —  about  October,  1843 —  Mr.  Henry  Wilson 
arrived  from  New  York,  together  with  his  family. 
He  found  himself  in  a  strange  country,  almost  unin- 
habited, and  without  any  means  of  sheltering  himself 
from  the  storms  of  the  coming  winter.  Something 
must  be  done,  and  Mr.  W.  at  once  set  about  building  r, 
temporary  abiding  place.  When  completed  it  was  more 
a  wigwam  than  anything  else,  being  built  of  such 
loose  material  as  could  be  readily  found,  and  covered 
with  the  dry  grass  of  the  marshes,  close  at  hand. 
Here  he  wintered  his  family,  cooking  in  the  open  air, 
and  getting  along  with  inconveniences  as  only  pioneers 
can.  This  will  explain  the  allusions  often  made  to 
Mr.  Wilson's  spending  his  first  Wisconsin  winter  in 
a  hay  stack.  In  the  spring  following,  on  the  comple- 
tion of  Mr.  Hayden's  house  spoken  of,  the  family 
were  moved  to  it,  and  there  remained  until  Mr.  Wil- 
son's return  from  Milwaukee  and  other  points,  where 
he  had  gone  to  purchase  such  articles  as  were  needed 
in  clearing  the  land  which  he  had  settled  upon. 

A  start  once  made,  the  valley   was   rapidly  settled. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLACK    EAKTII. 


521 


A  few  years  later  Mr.  O.  B.  Ilaseltine  came  here  from 
Vermont,  and  took  up  land;  and  to  him  attaches  great 
importance  in  Black  Earth's  history.  Under  his  di- 
rection, in  August,  1850,  the  original  village  plat  was 
made.  It  was  surveyed  by  David  B.  Jarvis,  then 
county  surveyor,  and  was  composed  of  six  blocks, 
comprising  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  twenty-six,  township  eight  north, 
of  range  six  east.  The  village  took  its  name  from  a 
creek,  which  passed  through  it,  but  was  afterwards 
changed  to  Ray,  and  then  again  to  Black  Earth,  un- 
der which,  in  1857,  it  was  incorporated,  with  George 
High  as  president.  The  incorporation  act  was  for 
some  reason  done  away  with,  and  it  has  since  remained 
as  it  now  is.  The  several  additions  were  made  in 
subsequent  years,  but  no  particular  importance  attaches 
to  them. 

The  next  stride  cityward  was  a  grist  mill.     Seeine; 

v  CD  O 

the  need  of  such  a  branch  of  industry,  Mr.  John  B. 
Sweat  purchased  of  Mr.  Haseltine  the  site  and  privi- 
leges of  the  present  mill  company,  and  built  the  mill. 
This  he  conducted  for  some  length  of  time,  when  he 
sold  it  to  Mr.  John  Wall,  who  after  building  a  small 
addition,  transferred  it  to  its  present  owners,  Messrs. 
Stanford,  Logan  &  Co.  The  mill  as  it  now  is  has  a 
reputation  well  to  be  envied,  and  is  doing  a  very  ex- 
tensive business,  not  only  doing  the  custom  milling 
for  a  large  scope  of  country,  but  shipping  large 
quantities  of  fine  quality  of  flour  to  the  eastern 
markets. 


522  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLACK   EAKTII. 

Then  followed  a  business  venture  in  the  form  of  a 
"  country  store,"  Elias  Pound  being  the  proprietor. 
His  place  of  business  was  where  now  stands  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  M.  H.  Myers.  Old  settlers  tell  what 
are  to  us  marvelous  stories  of  the  sale  of  eggs  at  three 
cents  per  dozen,  butter  at  three  cents  per  pound,  and 
other  things  proportionately.  Success  attending  Mr. 
Pound,  others  were  not  slow  to  see  it,  and  soon  after- 
ward Messrs.  High  &  Barber  established  themselves 
in  business. 

Our  first  hotel  was  the  building  which,  with  sundry 
additions,  is  now  the  residence  of  Mr.  J.  Q.  Stuart.  It 
was  kept  by  Mr.  Jared  Peck.  The  next  was  the  hotel 
which  now  stands  and  is  known  as  the  Yalley  House. 
This  we  believe  was  first  kept  by  Mr.  Thomas  Barber. 
Perhaps  none  of  our  "old  timers"  have  acquired  a 
stronger  hold  upon  the  affections  of  the  people  than 
Mr.  B.  This  gentleman  came  over  from  England  in 
1S48,  arriving  just  in  time  to  vote  on  the  admission 
of  our  state  into  the  union.  For  eight  years  he  tilled 
the  soil,  marketing  his  products  in  Milwaukee,  and 
frequently  not  getting  enough  for  the  load  to  pay  the 
expenses  of  the  trip.  In  1S54,  he  moved  to  the  vil- 
lage and  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  and  afterward 
established  the  hardware  establishment,  in  which  he 
has  since  remained. 

In  the  year  1845,  the  first  school  house  was  built. 
It  was  a  modest  looking  structure,  and  in  keeping 
with  the  other  buildings  of  that  day.  It  was  situ- 
ated between  the  present  farm  residences  of  James 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLACK    EARTH.  523 

and  John  Turk.  For  several  years,  the  building 
served  as  a  temple  of  learning  and  as  a  house  of  wor- 
ship. "With  the  increase  of  population  came  a  de- 
mand for  more  commodious  quarters,  which  were 
provided  about  1853.  This  was  a  frame  building, 
within  the  village  limits,  upon  the  present  school  lot. 
This  in  turn  became  as  inadequate  to  the  demands  as 
had  the  old  one  in  its  day,  and  in  1859  an  excellent 
two  story  brick  building  was  made  in  its  place,  and 
the  old  building  sold  to  the  people  of  Peter  C.  Paul- 
son's district,  town  of  Vermont,  where  it  was  re- 
moved early  in  the  following  year.  Dr.  S.  L.  Hooker 
and  his  estimable  lady  were  the  first  to  take  charge 
of  affairs  in  the  new  building,  and  right  well  did  they 
perform  their  duties.  In  1874,  a  wing  was  added  and 
the  school  divided  into  four  departments,  in  which 
form  it  now  remains,  a  pride  to  every  citizen. 

In  the  year  1856,  the  Milwaukee  &  Mississippi 
Eailroad,  now  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Rail- 
road, reached  Black  Earth.  It  was  the  original  in- 
tention of  the  managers  to  put  up  a  large  depot, 
round  house,  etc.,  provided  the  land  could  be  pro- 
cured at  reasonable  figures.  The  owner  of  the  land, 
in  his  cupidity,  demanded  an  exorbitant  sum  for  the 
ground  desired,  which  so  enraged  the  company's  man- 
agement that  they  refused  to  do  more  than  put  in  a 
side  track,  and  the  citizens  were  compelled  to  erect 
the  first  depot  building.  For  many  years  this  bitter 
feeling  existed  toward  the  village,  and  but  little  was 
done  by  the  company  in  way  of  improvements  until 


524 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLACK    EARTH. 


tlie  extent  of  the  patronage  compelled  the  company 
to  look  more  favorably  upon  the  village.  Until 
within  the  past  five  or  six  years,  during  which  time 
the  chinch  bug  has  almost  entirely  destroyed  the 
wheat  crop  in  this  vicinity,  Black  Earth  has  ranked 
among  the  greatest  shipping  stations  on  the  line.  At 
present,  live  stock  is  its  chief  export.  During  the 
year  1876,  there  were  shipped  91  cars  of  hogs  and  85 
cars  of  cattle,  while  only  about  38,000  bushels  of 
wheat  were  shipped.  The  total  freight  shipments 
amounted  to  6,373,710  pounds.  The  receipts  for  the 
same  period  were  2,700,295  pounds. 

At  the  time  this  sketch  is  penned,  the  popula- 
tion of  the  town  is  about  1,000;  the  village  claiming 
a  little  over  one-half  of  the  number.  The  population 
is  mixed,  being  made  up  principally  of  Americans, 
Norwegians,  Germans  and  English.  But  little  man- 
ufacturing is  carried  on,  except  in  those  branches  de- 
pendent upon    the  agricultural   people  for   support. 

The  business  of  the  village  at  the  time  of  this  writ- 
ing may  be  summed  up  as  follows:  Isaacson  &  JNTord- 
riim,  J.  Bjornstad  &  Co.,  K.  Eriekson,  Julius  Weis- 
senborn,  dry  goods  and  groceries;  T.  Barber  &  Son, 
hardware;  J.  Ilolden,  drugs;  A.  P.  "Winden,  merchant 
tailor;  A.  II.  Anderson,  confectioner  and  barber; 
J.  Schanel,  furniture;  Mrs.  E.  S.  Parker,  Mrs.  H.  Pir 
per,  millinery;  Miss  E.  H.  Richards,  Miss  Mary  Se- 
verson,  dress  making;  George  Zcller,  hotel;  Burnett 
tfc  Son,  publishers  Advertise?'  and  general  steam  print- 
ing;   C.   Lange,   Ed.   Kirst,   harnessmakers;    K.   J 


DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS BLACK  EARTH.     525 

Mjelde,  Gilbert  Anderson,  R.  Lutzow,  shoemakers;  C. 
Peters,  photographer;  Oie  Rustebakke,  jeweler;  Peter 
Johnson,  general  machine  shop;  F.  Yoss,  O.  J.  Wick, 
M.  Hanson,  blacksmiths;  U.  D.  Wood,  P.  Johnson, 
planing  mills;  M.  H.  Myers,  Ole  Jordet,  wagonmakers; 
John  Peterson,  carpenter;  John  Muskat,  A.  A.  Steens- 
rnd,  Paul  Copley,  Meltzer  &  Peterson,  saloons;  Stan- 
ford &  Logan,  Ward  Brothers,  Isaacson  &  Nordrum, 
grain  buyers;  John  Adams,  Isaacson  &  Nordrum, 
Stanford  &  Logan,  stock  buyers;  Ward  Brothers, 
George  Bate,  lumber;  Stanford,  Logan.  &  Co.,  flour 
mill;  E.  II.  Sackett,  saw  and  carding  mill;  U.  P. 
Stair,  W.  IT.  Bobbins,  physicians;  S.  Charlesworth, 
lawyer  and  insurance  agent;  Man  waring,  Beatty  Sz 
Wilson,  proprietors  Black  Earth  cheese  factory;  F. 
Hickstine,  butcher;  S.  Barker,  drayman;  William 
Showers,  cooper. 

Its  public  edifices  are,  three  churches  —  Methodist, 
Congregational  and  Episcopal  —  a  fine  school  build- 
ing, with  four  separate  departments,  and  a  two-story 
town  hall,  situated  in  the  center  of  a  beautiful  park. 

With  a  good  location,  a  splendid  surrounding  coun- 
try, excellent  water  power,  and  all  advantages  given 
by  nature,  the  subject  of  this  meagre  sketch  can  well 
claim  a  place  in  the  front  rank  of  Dane  county  vil- 
lages. 


526  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  PRIMROSE. 


PRIMROSE. 

BY  HON.  G.  TOLLEFSON. 

This  township  lies  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
county,  on  its  south  boundary  line,  which  separates 
it  from  the  town  of  New  Glarus,  Green  county,  about 
eighteen  miles  southwest  of  Madison,  and  known  as 
township  5  north,  of  range  8  east.  The  town  is  well 
watered  in  the  northern  part,  by  the  Avest  branch  of 
the  Sugar  river,  and  also  by  two  tributaries  of  the 
same,  furnishing  the  town  with  an  abundance  of 
water  and  good  marsh  land.  The  face  of  the  country 
is  undulating,  agreeably  diversified  with  oak  open- 
ings and  prairie.  There  is  considerable  highland  or 
small  ridges,  in  which  there  is  excellent  stone  for 
building  purposes. 

On  section  eleven  there  is  a  large  rock  that  stands 
out  in  strong  contrast  with  its  surroundings,  and  is 
composed  of  several  blocks  of  stone,  raised  one  above 
the  other  to  the  height  of  about  fifty  feet,  the  lower 
one  of  which  measures  nearly  twenty-five  feet  in  di- 
ameter, while  the  top  block  is  about  fifty  feet.  It  is 
familiarly  called  the  "  Devil's  Chimney,"  because  of 
its  supposed  resemblance  to  the  form  of  a  chimney.  In 
1850  a  man  named  Joel  Blitz,  said  to  be  an  old  sailor, 
climbed  to  the  top  by  means  of  ropes  wrhich  were 
thrown  over  it  and  fastened  on  the  ground  on  the 
opposite  side.  He  planted  a  flag  on  the  top,  the  staff 
of  which  is  still  remaining.  The  feat  was  never 
known  to  have  been  done  before  or  since.     The  base 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS PRIMROSE.  527 

of  this  chimney  is,  like  many  other  noted  places  of 
historical  interest,  covered  with  a  profusion  of  names 
and  dates  from  all  over  the  United  States. 

Mount  Julia,  another  of  the  curiosities  of  the  town, 
is  an  oblong  ridge  of  rock,  surmounted  with  trees, 
about  200  feet  high,  250  feet  broad,  and  about  1,600 
to  1,700  feet  long.  It  is,  in  some  places,  somewhat 
precipitous,  indeed  it  indicates  as  if  it  had  at  a  very 
recent  date  been  entirely  so,  but  from  the  wash  by 
rains  from  the  top,  it  is  now  quite  accessible. 

The  first  settlers  in  the  town  of  Primrose  were  Da- 
vid Thomas  and  family,  Robert  Speers  and  family, 
W.  Speers,  Edmund  Speers,  W.  Underbill,  Robert 
Harrington,  Mr.  Scoville,  Mr.  Phillips,  Mr.  Peck  and 
Hall  C.  Chandler.  Mr.  R.  Speers  gave  the  town  its 
name. 

Of  the  Norsemen,  who  now  constitute  a  large  ma- 
jority of  the  population  of  Primrose,  Christian  Hen- 
drickson  from  Lier,  Norway,  was  the  first  settler. 
He  came  here  in  1846,  and  still  lives  on  his  old  farm. 
Two  years  later — 1848,  more  Norsemen  arrived, 
among  whom  were  Niels  Evenson,  Salve  Jorgenson, 
Niels  N.  Skogen,  who  were  followed  in  1S49  by  Gu- 
nolf  Tollefson  and  Peter  Haslerud.  When  Mr.  Tol- 
lefson  bought  his  land,  only  80  acres  had  been  pur- 
chased in  the  town,  the  other  settlers  having  only 
preempted  the  jneces  of  land  on  which  they  were  liv- 
ing. 

The  first  school  house  was  built  on  section  17,  in 
1847,  but  the  town  now  has  seven  school  houses. 
The  first  teacher  was  Gunnuld  Jackson. 

The  first  church  in  Primrose  was  built  by  the  Norse 
Lutherans.     The  name  of  the  congregation  was :  "  The 


528  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  PRIMROSE. 

Primrose  Norse  Evangelical  Lutheran  Congregation ;" 
it  was  connected  with  the  Norse  Evangelical  Luther- 
an Church  of  North  America,  and  the  church  edifice 
here  referred  to,  was  erected  in  1856  on  section  21. 
The  first  minister  who  preached  to  an  organized  con- 
gregation was  Elling  Eielson.  The  second  pastor  of 
this  congregation  was  Arne  Boyum.  The  third  was 
Ole  Torgerson,  and  its  present  minister  is  P.  Solberg. 

A  few  years  after  the  organization  of  the  above 
named  congregation,  another  Norse  Lutheran  Church 
was  organized  in  this  town  by  the  Pev.  A.  C.  Preus. 
This  one  joined  the  so-called  Norse  Synod.  Its  sec- 
ond pastor  was  P.  M.  Brodahl,  and  its  present  preach- 
er is  John  Field,  of  the  Norse  Synod.  This  congre- 
gation erected  in  1866  a  church,  which  was  consumed 
by  fire  in  1873,  and  has  not  been  rebuilt. 

Finally,  there  is  a  third  Norse  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion, which  was  organized  in  1869,  by  Pev.  C.  L.  Clau- 
sen; its  second  pastor  was  Prof.  A.  Weenaas,  and  its 
present  preacher  is  M.  F.  Gjertsen  of  Stoughton. 
From  the  above  it  appears  that  the  statement  in  the 
Dane  County  Atlas  "  that  Pev.  A.  C.  Preus  was  the 
first  Lutheran  pastor  in  Primrose  "  is  incorrect. 

There  has  always  existed  the  best  of  feeling  between 
the  different  nationalities  in  Primrose.  To  this  there 
is  but  one  exception.  In  the  small  village  of  Mt.  Ver- 
non, whereof  a  part  is  situated  within  the  limits  of 
the  town,  there  lived  in  the  early  days  of  Primrose  a 
man  called  Dr.  Byam,  and  with  him  his  two  brothers 
and  their  families,  all  Americans.  Dr.  Byam  and  his 
brothers  had,  by  their  tricky  and  dishonest  practices, 
and  by  repeated  acts  of  rascality  toward  the  citizens 
of  the  town,  made  themselves  odious  to  such  an  ex- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS PRIMROSE.  529 

tent  that  the  farmers  decided  to  get  rid  of  them.  So 
they  got  together,  about  seventy  in  number,  with 
Dick  Chandler  as  their  chosen  leader.  On  the  even- 
ing agreed  upon  they  proceeded  to  Dr.  Byam's  house, 
armed  with  axes,  crow-bars  and  other  weapons,  and 
asked  to  speak  with  him.  The  rascal,  who  suspected 
what  was  in  store  for  him,  sent  his  wife  to  the  party 
outside  with  the  answer  that  he  was  not  at  home. 
But  the  farmers  were  not  to  be  bluffed  off  in  this 
manner,  and  when  he  refused  to  come  out  they  began 
to  tear  down  the  house,  and  were  about  throwing  it 
into  the  stream  near  by.  Fear  now  seized  the  doctor, 
and  lie  came  out,  upon  the  pledge  of  three  farmers 
that  no  harm  should  be  done  to  him  before  they  had 
properly  discussed  the  matter.  He  had  to  go  with 
them  into  the  flour  mill  near  by.  Here  he  was  tried 
and  found  guilty  of  several  grossly  dishonest  transac- 
tions, among  which  it  was  proved  that  he,  with  a 
patent  churn,  had  defrauded  several  farmers  of  their 
lands.  The  sentence  was  that  Dr.  Byara,  his  brothers 
and  their  families  must  leave  Mt.  Yernon  and  Primrose 
within  twenty-four  hours,  and  the  rascal  was  prudent 
enough  to  obey  this  decision.  One  of  Dr.  Byam's 
brothers  was  tarred  and  feathered,  and  the  other,  who 
also  defied  the  will  of  the  farmers  and  came  back  to 
town  after  a  load  of  hay,  was  also  made  to  feel  that 
the  farmers  were  in  earnest  when  they  forbade  any  of 
the  Byams  returning  to  Primrose.  As  soon  as  he 
had  gotten  the  hay  into  his  wragon,  the  farmers  set 
fire  to  it.  The  horses  ran  away,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
when  the  hay-load  got  to  burning,  and  the  man  had 
to  save  his  life  as  best  he  could  by  taking  to  his  legs. 
Since  that  time  none  of  the  brothers  Byam  have  made 
34 


530  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS PRIMROSE. 

any  attempt  to  settle  in  Primrose.  Of  course  the 
Byam  brothers  brought  suit  against  the  seventy  farm- 
ers, but  the  latter  employed  George  B.  Smith,  of  Mad- 
ison, as  their  lawyer,  and  the  case  ended  in  an  almost 
complete  acquittal  of  the  farmers.  Thsy  simply  had 
to  pay  the  costs  of  the  suit.  Although  the  action 
taken  against  Mr.  Byam  and  his  brothers  doubtless 
was  perfectly  just,  the  citizens  of  Primrose  of  to-day 
have  changed  their  opinion  in  reference  to  ways  and 
means,  and  would  not  again  take  the  law  into  their 
own  hands  to  protect  themselves  against  vagabonds 
and  rascals. 

Another  circumstance  that  took  place  in  the  pioneer 
days  of  our  town,  was  a  conflict  between  Primrose 
and  the  adjoining  town  of  Montrose.  An  old  man, 
by  name  Mr.  Jackson,  in  Primrose,  owned  a  claim 
covered  with  good  oak  timber.  This  timber  some  of 
the  settlers  in  the  town  of  Montrose  tried  to  get  pos- 
session of,  and  so  they   came  up  in  tolerable   large 

numbers,  having   Mr.    L for  their   leader,    and 

equipped  with  teams,  sleds,  axes,  etc.,  so  as  to  be 
able  to  take  all  the  logs  down  to  Montrose.  As  soon 
as  the  people  of  Primrose  found  this  out,  the  mes- 
sage of  "  war,"  was  sent  from  neighbor  to  neighbor 
throughout  the  town,  and  an  army  was  soon  brought 
together.  The  end  of  the  war  was  that  the  Montrose 
party  had  to  go  home  with  their  sleds  empty,  while 
the  Primrose  people  took  the  logs  home  to  Mr.  Jack- 
son's house. 

Politically,  we  have  had  many  interesting  incidents 
but  none  quite  as  rich  as  the  following,  told  from 
Blue  Mounds,  our  neighboring  town. 

It  was  the  day  before  election.     Mr.  Dean  and  Mr. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS PRIMROSE.  531 

Burdick  of  Madison,  both  candidates  for  office,  came 
to  Blue  Mounds  to  naturalize  a  number  of  Nor- 
wegians. The  Norwegians,  thirty  or  forty  in  number, 
were  placed  in  a  row  and  all  sworn  in  at  once,  upon 
which  Mr.  Dean  passed  up  the  line,  handing  to  each 
man  his  certificate  of  naturalization,  and  the  ticket  he 
wanted  them  to  vote  the  next  day,  urging  them  to  be 
sure  to  vote  the  ticket  he  s^ave  them  and  no  other. 
The  new-fledged  citizens  being  very  conscientious  and 
anxious  to  keep  their  pledges,  appeared  at  the  polls 
the  next  day;  but  the  returning  board  were  the  ones 
who  were  surprised  when  they  came  to  count  the 
votes  in  the  evening,  and  found  that  some  of  them 
had  voted  their  naturalization  certificates  instead  of 
tickets.  The  Norwegians  in  Primrose  never  were 
quite  as  conscientious  as  that. 

In  Primrose  no  one  has  ever  had  license  to  sell  any 
kind  of  intoxicating  drink. 

All  the. factories  we  have  is  a  flour  mill  on  section 
seven,  built  in  1858. 

The  Hon.  Gunolf  Toleffson  was  the  first  member  of 
the  legislature. 

S.  Julie  is  a  practicing  physician  in  this  and  ad- 
jacent towns. 


532       DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  BLOOMING    GEOYE. 


BLOOMING  GEOYE. 

BY  JAMES  KAVANAUGH, 

This  township  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  por- 
tions of  Dane  county,  which,  from  its  early  occupation 
by  the  natives  and  the  unmistakable  evidences  of 
their  rude  productions  that  have  been  found  from 
time  to  time,  render  it  full  of  studious  contemplation 
and  instruction.  Its  proximity  to  the  beautiful  city 
of  Madison,  whose  light  shines  upon  a  hill  that  can- 
not be  hid,  makes  it  at  once  desirable  for  all  agricul- 
tural and  remunerative  purposes;  its  location  and 
soil  being  well  adapted  to  all  industrial  pursuits. 

Abram  Wood,  the  man  who  superintended  the 
building;  of  Mrs.  Eben  Peck's  house,  the  first  house  in 
Madison,  was  the  first  settler;  he  lived  at  Winnequah, 
and  had  a  squaw  wife,  a  daughter  of  the  chief  De 
Kaury.  When  Simeon  Mills  came  to  Madison,  by 
way  of  Janesville,  he  crossed  the  Catfish  three  times, 
and  finally  landed  at  Winnequah.  Here  he  found 
Wood,  and  through  him  was  able  to  bargain  with  two 
Indian  boys,  for  fifty  cents  each,  to  carry  him  across 
the  lake  to  Madison,  a  favor  which  he  was  unable  to 
persuade  the  boys  to  do  before. 

Robert  L.  Ream  (in  Durrie's  History  of  the  Four 
Lakes)  says  that  on  a  small  estuary  or  spring  on  Third 
Lake,  he  saw  a  red  fox  fishing  for  pickerel,  which  he 
caught    by    springing    suddenly  into   the    water  and 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLOOMING    GROVE.        533 

bringing  the  fish  out,  and  then  sitting  down,  quietly 
devoured  the  fruit  of  his  labor. 

The  town  of  Blooming  Grove  is  known  as  town  7 
north,  of  range  10,  and  situated  in  the  center  of  the 
county,  about  four  miles  east  of  Madison.  It  was 
originally  a  part  of  Madison,  but  was  organized  a  sep- 
arate town  April  2,  1850,  at  a  meeting  held  for  that 
purpose  at  the  house  of  R.  "W".  Lansing.  JN".  J.  Tomp- 
kins was  elected  chairman;  JVm.  J.  Reese  and  John 
L.  Lewis,  associate  supervisors;  Dr.  II.  A.  Tiffany, 
town  clerk;  Ben.  W.  Caswell,  treasurer;  Josephus 
Lansing,  assessor;  Rev.  John  G.  Miller,  superintend- 
ent of  schools.  Mr.  Miller  having  to  leave  for  the 
east,  R.  W.  Lansing  was  appointed  to  serve  in  his 
place.  Mr.  Miller,  from  1845  to  1850,  served  in  the 
capacity  of  a  missionary  among  the  Germans  in  Wis- 
consin, and  recalls  a  very  striking  contrast  between 
the  homes  of  the  citizens  of  to-day  and  those  of 
former  times.  The  Germans  were  very  few  then, 
but  there  were  large  settlements  of  Norwegians,  a 
great  number  of  whom  preferred  building  their 
houses  in  excavations  made  in  a  hill  or  bluff,  where 
they  boarded  up  the  sides  with  lumber. 

Elder  Miller  purchased  some  land  in  Blooming 
Grove,  next  to  Doctor  Tiffany,  and  others  who  were 
among  the  first  settlers.  About  this  time  Doctor 
Tiffany  came  to  Elder  Miller,  stating  that  they  had 
better  organize  a  town  of  their  own  and  be  separated 
from  Madison,  so  as  to  manage  their  own  affairs  and 
save  expense.  Accordingly  a  petition  was  made  to  the 
board  of  supervisors  and  the  request  granted,  and  on 


53tt        DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLOOMING    GROVE. 

the  2d  of  April.,  1850,  town  officers  were  elected. 
Some  time  after  the  organization  the  Doctor  spoke  of 
naming  the  town,  but  had  not  as  yet  found  a  suitable 
name  for  it.  Elder  Miller  asked  the  privilege  of 
naming  the  town.  The  Doctor  said,  "Yery  well, 
Elder,  if  you  have  a  suitable  name,  let  us  have  it." 
Having  been  privileged  to  travel  through  this  country 
for  several  years  he  readily  recognized  the  beauties  of 
nature  which  surrounded  him,  as  he  behold  at  a  short 
short  distance,  the  burr  and  black  oak,  resembling  an 
Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  orchard,  and  the  prairies  full 
of  wild  flowers  in  great  abundance,  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful colors  imaginable,  so  that  no  florist  could  have 
arranged  his  plants  more  artistically  than  was  visible 
all  around.  With  this  scene  before  him,  the  Elder 
said,  "I  think  the  town  names  itself  —  Blooming 
Grove."  "  You  have  hit  it,  Elder,"  said  the  Doctor, 
"it  is  a  Blooming  Grove;"  and  so  as  its  name  was 
given,  so  does  it  continue  in  reality  a  Blooming  Grove. 

The  first  German  church  and  congregation  was  or- 
ganized and  built  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Bloom- 
ing  Grove,  in  the  year  1853,  under  the  insjiection  and 
care  of  Bev.  J.  H.  Bagatz,  of  the  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation.    The  present  pastor  is  Bev.  T.  Umbrecht. 

The  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Bailroad,  and  the 
Watertown  division  of  the  same  road,  pass  through 
various  sections  of  the  town. 

The  earlier  inhabitants  found  this  township  in  a 
wild,  unimproved  condition,  and  in  possession  of  the 
Indians,  who  had  rudely  cultivated  a  large  portion  of 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  BLOOMING    GROVE.        535 

the  lands  on  the  west  bank  of  Monona,  directly  oppo- 
site Madison.  The  evidences  of  their  rough  culture 
have  not  entirely  disappeared  at  this  time.  There  are 
three  mounds  along  the  west  bank  of  said  lake  still 
apparent.  Many  of  the  Indian  relics  have  been  found 
in  and  about  these  mounds;  but  they  have  never  been 
thoroughly  opened  and  explored.  The  Indians,  in 
greater  or  less  numbers,  have  habitually  and  annually 
revisited  this  delightful  resort,  to  engage  in  fishing 
and  hunting;  the  lake  at  all  times  affording  abund- 
ant supplies  of  fish  and  game.  About  twenty  years 
ago,  during  a  quarrel  the  Indians  had  among  them- 
selves, an  Indian  chief  shot  one  of  his  braves  and  then 
threw  him  in  the  lake;  the  body  was  taken  out  sub- 
sequently and  buried  on  the  lake  shore,  on  the  land 
now  owned  by  Robt.  McComb,  where  the  mound  is 
still  to  be  seen.*  The  following  day  after  the  murder, 
about  twenty-five  Indians,  among  whom  was  the  wife 
of  the  murdered  man,  passed  the  residence  of  Mr.  Geo. 
Zinck  all  riding  on  ponies,  with  the  exception  of  this 
woman,  who  walked  alongside  leading  her  pony, 
which  the  Indians  said  it  was  necessary  for  her  to  do 
for  a  number  of  months,  as  evidence  of  her  mourning 
for  her  husband. 

When  the  Hon.  Moses  M.  Strong,  Levi  E.  Marsh 
and  Mr.  Potter  left  Milwaukee  on  the  16th  day  of 
January,  1837,  and  traveling  on  horeback  through 
Prairie  village  (now  Waukesha),  Fort  Atkinson  and 

*  A  statement  is  also  made  in  reference  to  the  above  fact,  that  the 
Indian  committed  suicide  while  suffering  from  the  effect  of  a  fever. 


536        DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  BLOOMING   GROVE. 

First  Lake,  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  the  newly  lo- 
cated seat  of  government,  they  took  the  Indian  trail 
from  Second  Lake  to  Third,  and  arrived  on  the  south- 
east side  in  the  town  of  Blooming  Grove  near  AVinne- 
quah,  where  Mr.  Strong  taking  his  field  glass  fixed 
upon  a  bay  on  the  opposite  shore  in  a  northwesterly 
direction  as  the  most  probable  direction  of  the  sec- 
tion line,  and  crossing  the  lake  on  the  ice,  struck  the 
meander  post  of  the  government  surveyor  at  the  foot 
of  King  street,  and  through  the  center  of  which  the 
section  line  runs. 

The  early  settlement  of  the  town  was  greatly  retard- 
ed for  want  of  ready  facilities  for  obtaining  the  neces- 
saries of  life,  Madison  affording  but  small  amounts 
and  at  enormous  prices,  and  Milwaukee  being  the 
nearest  market  (95  miles)  where  even  the  smallest 
demands  of  the  citizens  could  be  occasionally  sup- 
plied. However,  by  economy,  patience  and  perse- 
verance, the  forests  were  subdued  and  cleared,  and  the 
richest  productions  of  the  soil  soon  produced  an 
abundance  for  home  consumption,  and  the  people  be- 
came happy  and  hopeful;  and  now  think  they  have 
the  richest  and  most  productive  soil,  the  most  beauti- 
ful farms,  and  enchanting  scenery  of  any  other  town 
in  the  county.  Its  healthful  condition  has  ever  been 
proverbial,  and  from  some  of  its  eminences  may  be 
seen,  and  at  once,  the  2d,  3d,  and  4th  lakes,  also  the 
city  of  Madison  and  the  historic  Blue  Mounds,  twen- 
ty-five miles  west  of  Madison,  a  sight  full  of  grandeur 
and  magnificence.      Bounded   on  the  west  by  Lake 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLOOMING    GROVE.        537 

Monona,  the  best  and  most  placid  sheet  of  water  of 
the  four  lakes,  its  shores  are  easily  accessible  over  a 
bed  of  white  gravel,  looking  like  brilliants  set  in  the 
diadem  of  nature.  Here  bathing  may  be  freely  in- 
dulged in,  our  town  having  no  prohibitory  law;  and 
for  aquatic  sports,  in  boating  and  fishing,  it  cannot 
be  excelled.  Part  of  sections  seven  and  eight,  all  of 
section  eighteen,  and  nearly  all  of  nineteen,  lie  be- 
neath the  waters  of  Lake  Monona,  while  sections 
twenty-eight  and  thirty-three  are  mostly  covered  by 
Lake  Waubesa.  The  Catfish  river  connects  the  two, 
running  through  sections  28  and  29.  There  are  some 
smaller  streams  in  the  town,  upon  one,  Mr.  Dunning 
erected  a  sawmill  in  the  year  1841.  Dr.  Tiffany  was 
the  first  physician  in  the  town.  Dr.  Pelton  came 
shortly  afterwards. 

There  are  a  number  of  genial  resorts  on  this  side  of 
the  lake,  where  sumptuous  repasts  may  be  had  in  good 
order  and  at  moderate  rates.  Steamboats  ply  the 
lake  at  all  reasonable  hours,  and  pleasure  seekers  have 
the  freest  and  fullest  rational  enjoyments.  The  citi- 
zens are  all  farmers  and  hard  workers,  as  the  delight- 
ful and  growing  condition  of  their  farms  will  show, 
and  are  proverbial  for  genial  hospitality  and  high  in- 
telligence. The  soil  is  of  the  very  best  quality  that 
could  be  desired.  The  town  has  twelve  school  dis- 
tricts, and  contains  a  population  of  1,500  inhabitants. 

Blooming  Grove  Grange,  No.  250,  was  organized 
in  1874,  and  meets  weekly  at  the  Town  Hall. 

Monona  Lodge,  No.  285,  I.  O.  of  G.  T.,  meets  ev- 
ery Wednesday  evening  at  the  Town  Hall. 


538        DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS BLOOMING    GROVE. 

The  Cottage  Grove  Fire  Insurance  Company,  com- 
prising the  towns  of  Cottage  Grove  and  Blooming 
Grove,  and  adjoining  towns,  was  organized  March 
24th,  1875,  with  the  following  incorporators: 

James  Bell,  Daniel  Bechtel,  John  S.  Daily,  Henry  Peters,  Gr. 
Timmennan,  John  S.  Gallagher,  G.  M.  Nichols,  Wm.  F.  Uphoff, 
Richard  Gallagher,  John  Sprecher,  Jacob  Baringer,  John  Wolf,  C. 
Gousmann,  Fred  Pepper,  Casper  Storcks,  H.  Witte,  Francis  Zink, 
Chas.  Jorks,  C.  Rodefeld,  Wm.  M.  Townsend,  Francis  Good,  Rob- 
ert Gallagher,  C.  Uphoff,  H.  Hippe,  M.  E.  Emerson,  Mrs.  C.  H. 
Pellage,  C.  Horfmacher,  C.  Kanmier,  H.  Drakley,  E.  Stemhaur, 
George  Pellage,  John  Maeder,  A.  B.  Emerson,  Fred  Schultz,  C. 
Drakley. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  at  first  meeting: 

Wm.  F.  Uphoff.  president;  Daniel  Bechtel,  secretary;  John  S. 
Daily,  treasurer;  M.  E.  Emerson,  Henry  Peters,  G.  Timmennan, 
James  Bell  and  J.  S.  Gallagher,  directors. 

The  company  commenced  business  on  the  8th  day 
of  June,  in  the  same  year,  with  a  capital  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  The  company  insures  all 
kinds  of  farm  property,  and  is  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition, and  has  up  to  this  date,  August  20,  1877,  only 
sustained  two  small  losses,  amounting  to  $92,  and  has 
increased  its  capital  to  $270,000.  Its  present  officers  are: 

James  Bell,  president;  Daniel  Bechtel,  secretary;  John  S.  Daily, 
treasurer;  Philetus  Hurd,  Henry  Kleinefelter,  G.  Tim  merman,  H. 
M.  Harriman  and  Wm.  F.  Uphoff,  directors. 

The  town  officers  of  1877  are :  Supervisors  —  Dan  - 
iel  Bechtel,  chairman,  Matthew  Conlan,  William  M. 
Townsend;  town  clerk — James  Kavanaugh:  assess- 
or—  Wm.  H.  Pauli;  treasurer  —  Holmes  Halverson. 

In  1870  a  town  hall  was  built;  previously  town 
business  was  transacted  in  different  houses  of  the 
town. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON.  539 


MADISON. 

BY  H.  A.  TENNEY. 

Owing  to  the  wide  area  of  the  original  town,  the  cre- 
ation of  villages  and  a  city,  and  great  municipal  changes, 
it  is  difficult  to  make  a  satisfactory  sketch  of  the  town 
of  Madison,  since  the  shifting  scene  of  forty  years  of- 
ten leaves  one  in  doubt  what  to  include  and  what  to 
reject,  either  as  to  boundaries,  or  as  to  early  settlers. 
Strictly  speaking  the  pioneer  citizens  of  the  village  and 
city  are  a  part  of,  and  belong  to,  the  town,  and  no  sketch 
could  be  considered  complete  which  did  not  include 
them,  as  many  of  them  were  the  most  prominent  actors 
in  early  times.  From  the  material  at  command  I  have 
made  the  best  classification  in  my  power.  It  is  not  en- 
tirely satisfactory  to  myself,  and  doubtless  will  not  be 
to  many  who  may  read  these  pages  and  whose  names 
have  been  necessarily  omitted.  I  beg  all  to  look  upon 
this  production  with  charity  and  a  kindly  eye  to  the  dif- 
ficulties of  the  undertaking. 

Wrro  first  Visited  the  Lake  Country.  —  Ebenezer 
Brigham,  the  first  settler  within  the  limits  of  Dane 
county,was  probably  the  firsb  white  American  who  visited 
the  site  of  Madison.  In  repeated  conversations  with 
the  writer,  many  }'ears  since,  he  stated  that,  in  company 
with  a  few  other  prospectors,  he  erected  a  cabin  at  Blue 
Mounds  in  1828,  and,  having  done  so,  accompanied  by 
three  others,  a  few  days  later,  made  a  trip  to  Fort  Win- 
nebago, then  a  new  frontier  outpost,  to  ascertain  wheth- 
er supplies  could  be  obtained  there,  and  what  facilities 
existed  for  the  shipment  of  lead.  He  had  heard  of  the 
Lake   Country   from   the   Indians,  and,  on  his  return, 


540  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON. 

struck  south  at  a  venture,  and  the  same  night  camped 
on  the  hill  on  which  Madison  is  now  located,  eight 
years  hefore  the  site  was  entered  by  Doty  and  Mason. 
Impressed  with  the  beauty  of  the  spot,  in  a  moment  of 
enthusiasm,  he  predicted  that  a  city  would  in  time  grow 
up  there,  and  that  it  might  become  the  future  capital  of 
a  state.  He  was  a  warm,  personal  friend  of  Doty,  and 
it  was  probably  through  him  that  knowledge  of  the 
place  was  first  communicated.  It  is  not  probable  that 
Doty  and  his  party,  who  visited  the  region  in  1829  for 
the  purpose  of  examination  with  reference  to  entering 
land,  did  so  at  random,  and  without  previous  informa- 
tion as  to  the  existence  of  the  lakes,  or  that  they  were 
the  first  coiners  here.  The  government  surveys  were 
not  completed  until  1834.  At  any  rate,  I  record  the 
statement  of  Mr.  Brigham,  made  to  me  on  several  occa- 
sions, and  place  it  in  opposition  to  such  historical  works 
as  give  Doty  and  his  party  the  credit  of  "  discovery/-' 
No  one  who  personally  knew  Brigham  would  for  a  mo- 
ment question  his  veracity  on  this  or  any  other  subject. 
He  was  a  pure  type  of  western  pioneer  manhood,  mod- 
est, quiet,  unassuming,  and  never  given  to  boasting.  I 
ought  to  add,  that  he  gave  me  the  names  of  the  com- 
panions who  made  the  trip  with  him,  but  they  have  un- 
fortunately been  lost.  He  spoke  of  the  excursion  sim- 
ply as  a  mere  incident  of  his  early  experience  in  the 
country,  and  repeated  to  me  what  is  above  recorded  the 
last  time  I  met  him,  but  a  few  weeks  before  his  death. 
A.  Pioneer  Scene.  —  The  first  coiners  found  every- 
thing in  a  primitive  condition.  The  hand  of  man  had 
not  as  yet  made  what,  in  modern  terms,  is  called  an 
"  improvement.1'  The  waters  tossed  idly  upon  their 
pebbly  beaches,  unfurrowed  by  a  keel.  The  rivers  ran 
lazily  through  channels  winding  and  crooked  to  such  a 
degree   as   to   prevent   any   rapidity  of   current.     The 


BANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON.  511 

marshes  and  low  grounds  were  dank  in  oozy  slime,  un- 
drained,  and  with  scarcely  defined  boundaries.  Forests 
spread  out  on  all  sides  over  hill  and  dale.  The  prairies 
at  rare  intervals  came  down  to  the  shores.  Birds  of 
passage  in  innumerable  flocks  swarmed  upon  all  the 
waters  ami  low  grounds.  The  stately  swan  came  fear- 
lessly to  feed  or  make  his  nest;  the  pelican  and  crane, 
seen  standing  in  long  lines  about  the  shores,  gave 
strange  animation  to  the  scene,  as  they  sought  their 
finny  prey.  Ducks,  geese,  all  varieties  of  water-fowl, 
in  multitudes  beyond  computation,  everywhere  dotted 
the  waters,  Avhile  fish  in  great  variety  of  species  filled 
the  pellucid  depths. 

Nor  was  the  land  less  densely  peopled  with  wild  ani- 
mal life.  The  elk,  deer,  bear,  wolf,  fox,  with  many 
other  species,  found  here  a  home  and  natural  supplies 
for  every  want.  The  eagle  and  hawk  were  lords  of  the 
air.  Songsters  filled  the  woods  with  melody.  The 
prairie  hen,  grouse,  sand-hill  crane,  quail  and  other 
species  abounded  in  the  openings  and  prairies.  And 
to  this  may  be  added  the  beaver,  not  as  yet  exterminated, 
the  otter,  mink,  muskrat,  etc.,  some  individuals  of  which 
even  yet  survive.  Add  to  these  things  Indian  encamp- 
ments about  the  shores,  with  their  rude  wigwams,  their 
light  canoes,  their  toil-worn  squaws,  their  elfish  pap- 
pooses  and  lazy  warriors,  and  we  shall  have  in  brief  ret- 
rospect the  scene  that  greeted  the  pioneers  of  the  Lake 
Country  in  the  seasons  of  verdure  and  sunshine.  It 
was  a  land  without  roads,  bridges,  or  artificial  land- 
marks, other  than  recent  surveys,  in  which  the  only  re- 
liable guide  to  the  traveler  was  his  compass,  and  his 
successful  journeying  depended  almost  wholly  upon  his 
endurance,  fortitude  and  practical  good  sense. 

Almost  every  prominent  point  was,  in  the  pioneer 
time,  covered  with  the  embossed  works  of  races  classed 


542  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  MADISON. 

now  under  the  meaningless  name  of  "Mound  Builders.1' 
The  ages  were  marked  here  with  the  symbols  of  this 
mysterious  people,  with  a  richness  and  profusion  that 
proved  long  residence,  and  keen  appreciation  of  all  that 
was  most  beautiful  in  nature.  About  every  variety  of 
form  of  structure  known  in  the  north  were  to  be  met 
with — beasts,  birds,  reptiles  and  men.  That  any  mem- 
ory of  them  has  been  preserved,  is  due  to  the  labors  of  a 
Lapham  and  one  or  two  others.  The  plow  has  been  as 
great  a  leveler  as  death  —  one  removing  the  race,  and 
the  other  eradicating  its  monuments.  Our  fields,  in- 
deed^ are  little  else  than  the  cemeteries  of  a  people 
whose  origin  was  doubtless  cotemporaneous  with  the 
mammoth,  the  mastodon  and  the  elephant.  Nearly  all 
their  great  works  have  now  disappeared  from  the  scene. 
Their  unhonored  dust  scarce  survives  as  a  memory. 
Modern  civilization  has  triumphed  over  the  graves  of  a 
mighty  past.  Unless  speedily  surveyed,  what  still  re- 
main of  these  works  —  and  they  are  still  numerous  in 
the  woodlands  —  will  soon  meet  the  common  fate.  Is 
there  no  one,  in  this  eleventh  hour,  to  re-map  the  out- 
lines of  what  still  remain? 

Fkom  1836  to  1816.  —  Madison  was  the  parent  town 
of  Dane  county,  the  first  named,  the  first  organized, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  a  single  individual,  the  first 
settled.  As  its  original  boundaries  probably  coincided 
with  those  of  the  county,  it  is  doubtful  whether  Eben- 
ezer  Brigham,  the  pioneer  of  all  this  section  of  country, 
ought  not  to  be  classed  as  its  first  settler,  though  living 
at  Blue  Mounds,  as  the  township  is  now  named.  If  he 
may  not  properly  be  thus  classified,  then  Eben  Peck 
and  family  are  entitled  to  that  distinction,  by  arriving 
a  few  weeks  in  advance  of  others  who  have  remained  per- 
manently located  from  the  beginning,  while  his  stay  was 
not  of  many  years  durati  >u. 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS — MADISON.  543 

The  first  entry  of  land  in  the  town  was  made  April 
6,  1836,  by  James  D.  Doty  and  Stevens  T.  Mason,  cov- 
ering most  of  the  present  city  site;  and  although  the 
place  then  had  no  name,  as  other  tracts  about  were  soon 
taken,  that  date  may  be  considered  as  the  origin  of  all 
improvements  and  changes  that  have  since  followed. 

Anything  like  a  correct  history  of  the  town  requires 
a  classification  into  three  parts,  according  to  municipal 
changes,  which  may  be  thus  stated: 

1.  From  1836  to  1816,  during  most  of  which  period 
the  town  and  county  were  substantially  the  same,  geo- 
graphically, and  had  substantially  the  same  officials. 

2.  The  charter  of  the  village  in  1816,  without  inter- 
ference with  the  town  government,  except  as  to  purely 
municipal  matters,  which  incorporation  continued  for 
ten  years. 

3.  The  chartering  of  the  city  in  1856,  which  ousted 
the  village  and  town  authority,  and  severed  the  two 
forms  of  government  previously  existing. 

The  first  election  precincts  into  which  the  town  was 
divided  were  ordered  by  the  county  commissioners  May 
15, 1839,  viz.:  Madison  and  Moundville  (Blue  Mounds). 
These  Avere  then  the  only  points  of  settlement.  The 
total  population  was  estimated  at  three  hundred.  The 
county  was  still  attached  to  Iowa  for  taxable  and  judi- 
cial purposes,  and  as  yet  no  courts  had  been  held.  At 
the  election  held  for  delegate  to  congress,  August  10, 
1839,  the  total  vote  cast  for  all  candidates  was  seventy- 
three.  County  officers,  justices  of  the  peace,  etc.,  were 
at  this  time  appointed  by  the  governor.  Officers  of 
election  were  appointed  by  the  county  commissioners. 
Township  government,  in  the  sense  Ave  now  understand 
it,  can  scarcely  be  said,  during  these  ten  years,  to  have 
had  an  existence.  A  quarrel  betAveen  Gov.  Doty  and 
the  legislature,  in  1812-3,  finally  changed  the  Avhole 


511  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  MADISON, 

system  by  taking  the  appointing  power  from  the  execu- 
tive and  conferring  upon  the  people  the  right  to  elect 
their  own  local  officers. 

The  population,  too,  of  this  decade,  was  much  too 
small  and  diffused  either  to  support  or  to  bear  much 
civil  control.  There  was  little  occasion  for  government 
where  there  were  none  to  govern;  and  the  pioneers  of 
the  wilderness  were  too  poor  in  worldly  goods  to  assume 
unnecessary  burthens.  The  worst  victims  of  the  time 
were  such  speculators  as  had  loaded  heavily  with  wild 
lands,  and  lots  in  the  village  plat.  They  were  naturally 
regarded  as  fair  game,  and  whenever  anything  of  a  pub- 
lic nature  was  undertaken,  it  was  almost  always  at  their 
expense.  The  financial  crash  of  1836-7  had  carried 
every  enterprise  down,  and  anything  like  renewed  pros- 
perity was  not  felt  in  the  interior  of  Wisconsin  until 
about  1815.  The  products  of  the  farm  literally  had  no 
commercial  value.  Wheat  sold,  when  there  was  any 
market,  at  twenty-five  cents  per  bushel,  and  when  it 
reached  fifty  cents,  farmers  considered  themselves  on  the 
high  road  to  wealth,  as  they  were,  for  lands  could  be 
bought  at  less  than  government  price,  and  wants  were 
much  fewer  than  at  the  present  time.  It  is  economy 
and  general  cheapness,  and  not  high  prices  and  extrava- 
gant notions,  that  makes  communities  rich.  Poverty  and 
industry  are  the  saving  power  of  states. 

From  1816  to  1856.  — In  1816,  the  town  was  for  the 
first  time  practically  organized,  and  the  village  of  Mad- 
ison incorporated.  The  corporation  did  not  conflict 
with  the  town  government,  and  citizens  participated 
equally  in  both  elections,  as  if  no  internal  municipal  or- 
ganization existed.  The  town,  indeed,  was  for  several 
years  the  controlling  local  authority. 

Owing  to  the  effects  of  the  panic  of  1836-7,  the  settle- 
ment of  the  territory  had  been  extremely  slow.     Madi- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON.  515 

son  was  far  isolated  from  all  neighborhood,  and  the  gain 
in  population  from  year  to  year  was  scarcely  appreciable. 
To  show  more  clearly  the  exact  location  of  population 
in  1846,  I  have  copied  two  extracts  from  the  town  rec- 
ords: one  creating  new  voting  precincts  in  the  town, 
which  then  embraced  twenty-four  townships  (Albion, 
Dunkirk  and  Fitchburg  having  previously  been  desig- 
nated as  voting  places,  in  addition  to  Madison  and 
Moundville),  and  the  order  of  the  commissioners  of 
common  schools  dividing  the  town  into  school  districts 
in  accordance  with  law,  to  wit: 

New  Precincts.  —  June  29,  1846. — At  a  meeting1  of  the  board 
of  supervisors,  held  at  the  county  room  this  day,  the  following  pre- 
cincts were  ordered  to  be  established  for  holding  general  elections : 

Ordered,  "  That  a  precinct  be  established  at  the  house  of  George 
McFadden  |  now  town  of  Montrose]  in  the  town  of  Madison  and 
county  of  Dane,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  "Grand  Springs 
Precinct,"  and  that  Geo.  McFadden,  Daniel  M.  Holt  and  Russell  Tif- 
fany be,  and  hereby  ar ;,  appointed  judges  of  election  for  said  precinct. 

That  a  precinct  be  established  at  the  house  of  John  Clark,  in  the 
town  of  Madison  [now  probably  town  of  Dane  J,  to  be  known  by  the 
name  of  ' '  Dane  Precinct, ' '  and  that  John  Clark.  Arnold  Downing 
and  Freedom  Simons  be,  and  they  hereby  are,  appointed  judges  of 
election  for  said  precinct. 

That  a  precinct  be  established  at  the  house  of  John  M.  Thomas, 
in  the  town  of  Madison  and  county  of  Dane  [now  Cross  Plains],  to 
be  known  by  the  name  of  ' '  Cross  Plains  Precinct, ' '  and  that  John 
M.  Thomas,  Ripha  Worden  and  John  S.  Mann  be,  and  hereby  are, 
appointed  judges  of  election  for  said  precinct. 

That  a  precinct  be  established  at  the  house  of  Amos  Beecher,  in 
the  town  of  Madison  and  county  of  Dane  [now  Cottage  Grove],  to 
be  known  by  the  name  of  "  Cottage  Grove  Precinct,"  and  that 
Horatio  Catlin,  Roswell  Brown  and  Charles  M.  Nichols  be,  and  are 
hereby  appointed  judges  of  election  of  said  precinct." 

The  erection  of  these  precincts  gave  a  total  of  nine 
voting  places  in  the  county,  and  the  names  then  given 
were,  with  an  exception  or  two,  adopted  by  the  towns 
when  afterwards  organized.  The  then  town  of  Madi- 
son, by  the  change,  had  six  places  established  for  voting 
within  its  limits. 

Naming  the  Towns.  —  Up  to  this  time  but  two  or 
three  townships  had  received  names,  and  many  were  as 
35 


516  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON. 

yet  without  their  first  settler.  They  were  known  only 
by  number  and  range;  and  nothing  was  more  puzzling 
for  a  time  to  "  old  settlers''  than  to  recognize  towns  by 
the  names  given  them  by  successive  boards  of  supervis- 
ors in  subsequent  years.  Even  now  the  writer  confesses 
himself  often  in  doubt  as  to  the  location  of  some  of  the 
towns  from  their  names,  long  as  they  have  been  estab- 
lished,without  reference  to  a  map — having  learned  in  the 
"old  way."  There  is  quite  a  difference  between  remem- 
bering thirty-six  names  and  two  or  three,  as  in  the  early 
time,  while  the  plats  of  survey  were  extremely  simple. 

Schools  and  School  Districts.  —  The  first  school 
district  in  either  town  or  county  was  created  December 
25,  1841,  on  the  formal  application,  by  petition,  of  Al- 
mon  Lull,  I.  W.  Bird,  E.  Irving.  P.  W.  Matts  and 
Nicholas  Smith.  David  Brigham,  James  Morrison  and 
Bush  Fairchild  were  commissioners  of  schools.  The 
district  was  numbered  1,  and  comprised  the  whole  town- 
ship of  Madison  as  at  present  organized,  including  most 
of  the  city  site.  In  February,  1811,  the  district  was  en- 
larged by  adding  to  it  town  8,  range  9  —  now  Westport. 
Up  to  1846,  seventeen  districts  had  been  designated  in 
different  portions  of  the  county,  to  meet  the  wants  of 
new  settlement,  but  they  were  entirely  disconnected, 
and  without  union  or  uniform  plan.  Upon  the  formal 
beginning  of  town  government  by  popular  vote,  the 
town  of  Madison,  as  then  organized,  was  formally  di- 
vided into  districts,  by  the  order  following,  given  in  full: 

Town  School  Districts  in  1816. —  The  official  di- 
vision of  the  town  of  Madison  into  school  districts  will, 
perhaps,  better  illustrate  the  meagerness  of  population 
in  1816,  than  anything  I  might  say  on  the  subject.  It 
was  as  follows: 

"Beit  known  that  on  this  29th  day  of  June,  A.  D.  1846,  we,  the 
undersigned  commissioners  of  common  .schools  for  the  town  of 
Madison,  county  of  Dane  and  territory  of  Wisconsin,  have  divided 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON.  547 

the  said  town  of  Madison  into  districts,  and  have  numbered  them 
as  follows,  to-wit: 

No.  1.  — Sections  1,  12,  13,  14,  15,  22  and  23  of  town  7,  range  9 
(now  plat  of  Madison),  and  all  of  town  8,  range  9  (now  Westport). 

No  2.  —  The  west  halt  of  town  7,  range  9  (now  Madison). 

No.  3.  —  Sections  25,  26,  27,  34,  35  and  36  in  town  7,  range  9 
(now  Madison). 

No.  4.  —  All  of  town  6,  range  11  (now  Pleasant  Springs). 

No.  5.  — Sections  7,  8,  9,  10,  15,  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  22  and 
the  west  halt  of  sections  11,  14  and  23,  in  town  8,  range  10  (now 
Burke). 

No.  6.  —  Sections   1,   2,  3,  4,   5    and  6,   in  town  8,   range  10 
(Burke),  and  sees.  25  to  36  in  town  9,  range  10  (now  Windsor). 
No.  7.  —  Sections  from  1  to  24,  in  town  9,  range  10  (now  Windsor). 

No.  8.  — All  of  town  6,  range  8  (now  Verona). 

No.  9.  —  All  of  town  5,  range  8  (now  Montrose). 

No.  10. — The  south  half  of  town  7,  range  11  (now  Cottage  Grove). 

No.  11.  —  All  of  town  9,  range  8  (now  Dane). 

No.  12.  —  Sections  13,  14,  15  and  the  south  half  of  town  8,  range 
6  (now  Black  Earth). 

No.  13.  —  The  north  half  of  town  8,  range  6,  excepting  sections 
13,  14  and  15  (now  Mazomanie). 

No.  14.  —  Sections  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9  and  10  of  town  8,  range  7 
(now  Berry). 

No.  15.  —  All  of  town  9,  range  9  (now  Vienna). 

No.  16. — The  north  half  of  town  7,  range  11  (Cottage  Grove), 
and  all  of  town  7,  range  10  (now  Blooming  Grove),  and  sections  12, 
13,  2:'>,  25,  26,  27,  28,  29,  30,  31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  36  and  the  east  half 
of  sections  11,  14  and  23  of  town  8,  range  10  (Burke). 

No.  17.  —  All  of  town  8,  range  8  (now  Springfield). 

No.  18.  —  All  of  town  7,  range  8  (now  Middleton). 

No.  19.  —  All  of  town  8,  range  7,  excepting  sec.  3  to  10  (now  Berry). 

No.  20.  —  All  of  town  7,  range  7  (now  Cross  Plains). 

No.  21.  —  All  of  town  6,  range  7  (now  Springdale). 

No.  22.  —  All  of  town  5,  range  7  (now  Primrose). 

No.  23.  —  All  of  town  7,  range  6  (now  Vermont). 

No.  24.  — All  of  town  6,  range  6  (now  Blue  Mounds). 

No.  25.  —  All  of  town  5,  range  6  (now  Perry). 

No.  26.  —  All  of  town  7,  range  12  (now  Deerfield)." 

This  order  is  signed  by  J.  Gilletfc  Knapp,  Benjamin 
Holt,  and  F.  H.  Talcott,  school  commissioners.  It  is 
doubtful  if  there  were  a. dozen  schools  actually  kept  in 
the  entire  county.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  commis- 
sioners divided  the  then  town  of  Madison  into  districts, 
incorporating  whole  townships  where  there  were  no,  or 
few  inhabitants,  and  making  them  of  lesser  size  only 
when  actual  colonies  had  been  begun.     Viewed  in  the 


548  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS MADISON. 

light  of  the  present,  this  order  is  a  very  significant  indi- 
cation of  the  then  isolated  location  of  settlements  and 
population. 

The  vote  for  state  government  at  the  spring  election, 
1846,  was  200  for,  and  47  against.  A  great  many  set- 
tlers deemed  it  too  early  to  establish  a  state,  as  the  gen- 
eral government  relieved  them  of  all  burthens  by  paying 
the  territorial  expenses.  The  proposition  was  barely 
carried,  mainly  by  the  vote  cast  in  villages  and  cities, 
through  the  activity  of  politicians  desirous  of  place  and 
distinction. 

Vote  for  Town  Officers  in  1846.  —  The  population 
of  the  town  at  this  time  may  be  inferred  from  the  vote 
cast  at  the  election  held  April  7,  for  town  officers.  Po- 
litical division  ran  very  high  at  this  period,  and  as  the 
settlers  were  all  young  or  middle  aged,  it  is  presumed 
that  few  or  none  failed  to  attend  the  polls.  The  result 
as  to  supervisors  was  as  follows: 

Democratic.  Whig. 

James  R.  Larkin 134  Ebenezer  Brigham 110 

Edward  Campbell 119  Beivj.  Dodge 100 

Wm.  C.  Wells 126  Samuel  G.  Abbott 98 

If  the  232  votes  cast  indicated  an  average  of  four  non- 
voters  to  each,  the  total  population  of  the  town  would 
have  been  928,  and  it  did  not  probably  much  exceed  this, 
including,  of  course,  the  village. 

Among  the  number  voted  for  at  this  election,  but  few 
remain  citizens  of  the  present  town,  or  now  survive. 
J.  D.  Ruggles  was  elected  clerk  over  E.  M.  Williamson 
by  one  majority.  For  treasurer,  Darwin  Clark  was 
elected  over  Henry  C.  Parker.  For  collector,  Andrus 
Viall  was  elected  over  Benjamin  W.  Wilcox  and  Abel 
Rasdall;  For  assessors,  George  Vroman,  J.  W.  Thomas 
and  William  Larkin  were  elected  over  Wm.  A.  Webb, 
W.  D.  Bird  and  Michael  M.  McCord.  For  fence  view- 
ers, Eliab  B.  Dean,  Jr.,  Thos.  W.  Sutherland  and  John 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  MADISON.  549 

Y.  Smith  triumphantly  defeated  S.  F.  Blanchard,  R.  F. 
Lowdon  and  Samuel  Parkhurst.  Justices,  Wm.  N.  Sey- 
mour, Nathaniel  Wheeler  and  Alonzo  Wilcox  were 
chosen  over  Adam  Smith,  Barlow  Shackleford  and  Na- 
than Spaulding.  Of  these  and  the  lesser  candidates,  it 
is  painful  to  note  how  many  have  disappeared  from  the 
scene  of  their  labors. 

The  following  items,  extracted  from  the  record  of  a 
few  years,  will  give  some  idea  of  the  doings  and  policy 
of  the  period: 

The  clerk,  at  a  meeting  in  April,  was  ordered  to  pro- 
cure a  printed  form  for  town  orders,  suitable  books  for  a 
town  record,  and  a  proper  seal.  The  total  taxes  voted 
for  all  purposes  amounted  to  about  seven  mills.  The 
English  settlement  in  the  lower  part  of  Black  Earth 
vallejr,  just  commenced,  owing  to  the  poverty  of  some  of 
its  members,  cost  the  town  quite  a  heavy  sum  for  poor 
purposes,  and  was  a  subject  of  much  controversy.  Cat- 
tle of  all  kinds,  except  bulls  and  stallions,  were  per- 
mitted, by  official  action,  to  run  at  large  in  all  high- 
ways, the  owners  not  being  liable  for  damages  to  any 
one  whose  premises  were  not  enclosed  by  a  legal  fence. 

At  an  election  held  April  6,  1847,  the  vote  for  state 
constitution  "Yes"  was  175;  " No,"  154.  For  license 
to  sell  liquors,  "Yes,"  27  votes;  "No,"  13.  Equal  suf- 
frage to  colored  persons,  "Yes,"  18  votes;  "No,"  176, 
As  yet  the  place  had  achieved  but  one  colored  "  man 
and  brother,"  and  his  voting  enfranchisement  was  not 
popularly  relished;  and  yet  Titus  Kirhpatrick  was 
highly  distinguished  by  the  attentions  received,  both 
in  prose  and  verse,  as  old  settlers  will  all  no  doubt  re- 
member. 

A  genial  kindness  pervaded  communities  at  this  time, 
unknown  to  the  present.  How  often  a  score  of  able 
bodied  men  left  their  own  work  to  go  out  ten  or  twenty 


550  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON. 

miles  to  help  a  new  settler  raise  his  cabin,  whose  name 
even  was  scarcety  known ;  and  all  without  fee  or  reward. 
It  was  equally  so  with  the  sick,  needy  and  destitute. 
The  shams  of  modern  society  had  no  place  here.  The 
impulses  of  benevolence  were  sincere  and  genuine.  Hy- 
pocrisy and  selfishness  had  not  as  yet  found  a  foothold. 
Degrees  of  wealth  were  not  recognized  as  degrees  in  the 
scale  of  humanity.  Piety  was  scarce;  but  practical 
good  deeds  were  too  common  to  attract  notice.  They 
were  looked  upon  as  matters  of  course. 

A  vein  of  waggery  tinged  the  whole  social  order. 
Every  one  was  joker  or  jokist  —  made  victims  of  others, 
or  was  himself  victimized.  Humor  and  fun  were  stand- 
ard coin.  Their  circulation  reached  every  one.  But  it 
is  almost  impossible  to  record  in  words  the  spirit  that 
escaped  in  its  essence,  and  overflowed  on  all  occasions. 
Mirth,  indeed,  flowed  like  a  river  with  full  Ivmks,  and 
there  was  no  such  thing  as  strangers  to  the  flood. 
Hardships  and  trouble  were  alike  forgotten  in  its  pres- 
ence. This  mercurial  impulse  made  a  "  smiling  land  " 
of  a  wide  waste  of  fertile  but  unoccupied  desert. 

Nothing  in  the  "  show  line  "  could  at  that  time  make 
its  appearance  without  universal  patronage.  It  did  not 
matter  whether  good  or  bad,  sport  was  bound  to  come 
out  of  it.  Even  the  gravity  of  courts  and  legislatures 
were  no  barriers  to  the  popular  tendency.  How  vividly 
I  recall  the  advent  of  a  circus,  in  the  summer  of 
1848.*  The  legislature  was  at  the  moment  in  dull  and 
heavy  session,  myself  reporting  for  the  press.  Suddenly 
strains  of  music  floated  into  the  Assembly  Chamber. 

*  Mr.  N.  T.  Hawes,  of  Fitch burg,  states  that  the  first  circus  exhibited  in 
Madison  was  in  the  summer  of  1C44,  and  exhibited  on  the  corner  of  the 
block  now  occupied  by  J.  E.  Fisher  as  a  furniture  warehouse.  In  the  Dane 
county  minutes  there  is  a  record  made  of  one  Geo.  K.  Spaulding  as  being 
licensed  to  exhibit  the  "North  American  Circus."  in  Dane  county,  for  ninety 
days,  dating  July  5th,  1814.  Also  on  July  Kith,  1845,  and  July  11th,  1840,  the 
firm  of  June  &  Turner  were  licensed  for  the  same  purpose,  and  for  about  the 
the  same  numbe:  of  days  each  time. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS — MADISON.  551 

A  moment  more,  there  was  a  rush  of  members  for  the 
windows  over  seats  and  desks,  and  then  a  stampede  for 
the  doors.  The  speaker  stopped  with  a  "  motion  "  on 
his  lips,  his  gavel  dropped,  and,  with  one  or  two  jumps, 
he  landed  on  the  stairway,  and  thence  to  the  floor  be- 
low, and  out  into  the  park  with  the  crowd,  and  was 
among  the  first  to  reach  the  street.  The  clerks,  aston- 
ished for  a  moment,  joined  in  pursuit;  and  the  reporter 
stood  in  an  empty  house  in  the  space  of  about  a  minute, 
which  no  one  had  adjourned,  and  so  he  adjourned  himself. 
But  to  dwell  on  these  memories  would  take  a  volume. 

Events  of  Genekal  Impoktance.  —  The  first  event 
of  local  consequence  was  the  location  of  the  territorial 
capitol.  At  the  time  there  was  but  one  settler  in  the 
county.  Next  to  it  was  the  building  of  a  steam  saw- 
mill on  Fourth  lake,  near  the  present  steamboat  land- 
ing, whereby  some  oak  lumber  was  obtainable  for  the 
floors  of  dwellings.  Previous  to  this,  the  most  "  aristo- 
cratic "  houses  were  covered  with  siding  split  by  hand. 
Log  houses  were  of  course  largely  in  excess.  As  this 
mill  soon  ceased  work,  owing  to  a  quarrel  over  the  own* 
ership  (having  been  built  with  territorial  funds),  Sime- 
on Mills  and  William  A.  Wheeler,  erected  another  in 
1811,  on  a  creek  which  empties  into  the  northerly 
end  of  Third  lake;  and  this  small  affair,  which  turned 
out  2,000  feet  daily,  of  hard  wood,  was  for  a  long  time 
the  sole  reliance  for  a  supply  of  lumber  for  the  county. 
This  mill  was  soon  after  sold  to  Philo  Dunning,  who 
run  it  for  some  years.  Subsequently  Mr.  Mills  built  a 
steam  mill  on  the  edge  of  the  marsh,  between  Main 
street  and  Washington  avenue,  in  the  year  1819. 
To  his  enterprise  at  this  period  and  afterwards,  the  town 
and  county  owe  far  more  than  they  have  ever  repaid. 
All  these  mills  have,  of  course,  long  since  disappeared. 
The  crop  of  "  prairie  saw  logs  "  is  a  thing  of  the  past, 


552  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  MADISON. 

but  one  whose  memory  is  even  yet  a  fragrance  to  the 
old  settlers. 

In  1844  the  first  flouring  mill  was  erected  in  the  town 
by  William  A.  Wheeler  and  Joseph  Vroman,  on  a  small 
branch  of  Sugar  River  in  town  6,  of  range  8  (now  Ver- 
ona), and  known  as  Badger  Mill,  which  was  the  only 
grist  mill  for  several  years,  and  consequently  the  inhab- 
itants were  largely  dependent  upon  Janesville  and  other 
towns  in  Rock  river  valley  for  their  bread,  until  L.  J. 
Farwell  built  a  large  flouring  mill  at  the  outlet  of  Lake 
Mendota,  in  1851.* 

The  Era  of  Canal  Projects.  —  Among  events  of 
these  early  times,  the  survey  of  a  canal  route  from  Rock 
river  to  the  Wisconsin,  by  way  of  the  Four  Lakes,  ought 
not  to  be  omitted,  as  the  "  canal  fever  "  preceded  the 
'"railroad  mania.'1  In  1838-9,  Capt.  Cram  made  a  canal 
survey  from  Rock  river  to  Madison,  under  instructions 
from  the  general  government,  and  in  the  latter  year, 
Capt.  Alex.  M.  Mitchell  continued  it  from  the  head  of 
Fourth  Lake  to  "  Mud  Lake,"  and  down  Black  Earth 
valley  to  the  Wisconsin,  and  pronounced  the  project 
"perfectly  feasible!"     Here,  then,  was  a  scheme  worth 


*  To  illustrate  the  dilemma  of  a  community  thus  situated,  let  me  give  a 
brief  example.  On  my  first  visit  to  Madison,  in  1845,  I  was  invited  by  Dan- 
iel M.  Holt,  an  old  acquaintance,  to  take  tea  with  his  family.  On  accom- 
panying him  to  his  house  I  soon  discovered  that  his  wife,  from  a  whispered 
conversation, was  in  a  "peck  of  trouble."  Finally,  Holt,  turning  to  me,  said, 
'•It  is  no  use  to  conceal  anything.  We  have  to  depend  on  Janesville  for 
flour,  and  the  'flour  man'  is  four  days  behind  time.  I  bought  an  extra  6tock 
on  his  last  visit,  but  the  taverns  and  neighbors  are  all  out,  and  wre  have  lent 
until  we  have  not  an  ounce  for  ourselves.  I  think  the  man  must  get  along 
yet  to-night.  At  any  rate  let  us  go  out  and  watch  the  road  for  him.  If  he 
fails,  we  can't  give  you  either  bread  or  biscuit,  for  there  is  no  such  thing  in 
town.  You  will  have  to  All  up  with  potatoes  and  fish."  We  accordingly 
took  up  a  position  in  the  woods,  near  where  the  court  house  now  stands, 
and  eagerly  scanned  the  '-Janesville  road."  In  about  an  hour  a  team  was 
seen  winding  round  the  head  of  Third  Lake,  which  proved  to  be  the  "flour 
man's."  Some  biscuit  was  speedily  prepared,  much  to  the  relief  of  the  wife, 
who  persisted  in  feeling  "mortified"  at  being  caught  in  so  common  a  pre- 
dicament at  that  time  in  all  families.  The  rule  seemed  to  be  that  the  "tav- 
erns" must  be  supplied  in'any  event,  for  the  good  repute  of  the  place,  how- 
ever short  the  citizens.  Such  a  deprivation  at  the  time,  with  me,  as  with 
others, would  have  simply  excited  a  hearty  laugh.  But  feminine  hospitality 
was  often  put  to  a  severe  test  in  those  days. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON.  553 

talking  about  —  a  water  route  both  east  and  west  from 
Madison,  and  our  lakes,  in  imagination,  all  to  be  turned 
into  reservoirs  for  steamers  and  canal  boats!  The  ideas  of 
the  time  were  far  ahead  of  present  or  possible  reality. 
There  was  no  such  word  as  "  visionary "  to  the  new 
comer.  A  canal  carried  over  a  two  hundred-feet  crest, 
with  no  body  of  water  as  a  feeder,  did  not  seem  an  ex- 
travagant enterprise  during  this  era  of  wild  real  estate 
speculation. 

Scandinavian  Immigration. — Norwegian  settlement 
was  commenced  around  Lake  Koshkonong  about  1840. 
It  soon  pressed  into  the  southeast  corner  towns  of  Dane 
county.  Dressed  in  the  costume  of  their  native  land, 
with  customs  and  manners  wholly  un-American,  the 
Scandinavian  was  at  first  regarded  with  great  curiosity 
by  the  native  element.  As  a  rule,  they  selected  the 
hilly  lands  out  of  the  government  domain,  and  built 
their  dwellings  mainly  in  excavations,  often  invisible  at 
a  distance.  When  a  census  was  taken  in  midwinter  in 
1847,  as  a  preliminary  to  the  convention  to  frame  a  state 
constitution,  Joel  P.  Mann,  who  was  making  the  enu- 
meration, had  great  trouble  in  finding  this  class  of  the 
population.  In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Burdick  (EUsJta, 
for  short,)  suggested  a  plan  that  was  eminently  success- 
ful. It  was  to  gain  a  high  hill  in  early  morning,  count 
the  smokes,  and  multiply  the  number  by  ten!  The  cen- 
sus was  soon  after  satisfactorily  completed. 

In  the  absence  of  polling  places,  the  Norwegian  set- 
tlers, in  1816,  had  to  come  to  Cottage  Grove  (Beecher's 
place)  to  vote.  There  was  much  strife  between  political 
parties  to  gain  this  accession  in  strength,  and  the  cus- 
tom was,  to  send  out  a  team  on  election  day,  with  a 
deputy  clerk  to  naturalize,  together  with  a  plethoric  keg 
of  whisky,  and  an  agent  to  see  that  a  supply  of  the  right 
kind  of  tickets  were  given  out  and  put  into  the  ballot 


554  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  MADISON. 

box.     The  following  was  said  at  the  time  to  be  the  form 
of  proceeding  in  making  citizens  of  the  newly  arrived: 

Officer  to  applicant — "Hold  up  your  hand.  You  swear."  Ap- 
plicant—"Y&w"  Officer—  "By  Jesus  Christ."  Applicant— "Taw." 
Officer — "  You  vote  the  democratic  ticket!'1''  Applicant — "Yaw." 
Officer  — "Here  is  the  straight  vote.  Go  up  to  that  window  where 
you  see  those  three  men,  and  put  it  in  the  box,  then  come  back  and 
take  a  square  drink.  You  are  now  invested  with  the  whole  dignity 
and  every  right  of  a  free  American  citizen." 

The  Norwegians  were  all  democrats  at  that  time. 
At  present,  democratic  votes  are  conspicuously  absent 
among  them  when  they  go  to  the  polls. 

The  wondrous  career  of  the  race  in  material  wealth 
and  mental  improvement,  under  favorable  and  improv- 
ing conditions,  is,  to  the  early  American  settlers,  a 
marked  phase  in  race  development,  conspicuous  among 
all  others  witnessed  in  western  life. 

There  were  few  German  settlers  then,  one  I  recollect 
by  the  name  of  Xavier  Jordan.  I  can  only  remember 
the  names  of  three  Irishmen,  Thomas  and  Matthew 
Dunn  and  Peter  Kavanaugh  and  their  families.  A 
dozen  English  families  located,  near  what  is  now  Mazo- 
nianie  and  towns  of  Springfield  and  Berry,  and  a  few 
Scotchmen  in  this  town  and  Verona,  comprised  the 
"  foreign  element."  The  American  type  was  gen- 
erally predominant. 

Population,  however,  commenced  flowing  in  very  rap- 
idly about  this  period,  and  but  a  short  time  elapsed  be- 
fore nearly  every  European  nation  had  representatives 
among  us.  Owing  to  the  rivalry  between  different 
counties,  the  census  returns  of  the  period  are,  on  the 
score  of  exact  accuracy,  at  least  open  to  suspicion. 

The  railroad,  also,  which  first  reached  us  in  1854,  was 
another  event  whose  impulse  is  scarcely  yet  over.  For 
the  first  time  our  people  were  tied  to  the  outer  world 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON.  555 

by  an  enduring  baud  —  a  tie  whose  cost  many  of  them 
are  not  likely  to  forget.  Its  advent  was  regarded  as  a 
decidedly  "big  thing."  Hundreds  came  from  miles 
distant  to  see  the  first  gravel  train! 

The  Town  as  now  Organized.  —  The  present  area 
of  the  township  of  Madison  is  about  11,400  acres  of 
land  —  the  balance  water.  It  stands  like  a  sheep  that 
has  passed  through  the  hands  of  the  shearer.  Years 
of  steady  clipping  had  shrunk  it  to  square  boundaries, 
when  the  legislative  shears  made  a  final  clip  about 
1859,  and  set  off  a  few  sections  to  the  town  of  Burke. 
As  a  result,  its  parts  are  no  longer  "  contiguous  terri- 
tory." The  two  northern  corners,  "  McBride's  Point" 
and  uLivesey's  Woods,"  are  isolations — the  voters  from 
one  side  having  to  pass  through  Springfield  and  Middle- 
ton  to  get  into  their  own  town,  and  on  the  other,  to  trav- 
erse some  five  miles  of  city  site  to  attend  the  polls. 
Except  these  breaks,  the  town  encloses  the  city  as  the 
shell  does  the  kernel,  or  the  setting  the  gem,  and  em- 
braces about  all  the  beauties  of  location  and  landscape 
that  the  city  is  so  boastful  over.  The  promontories  and 
peninsulas,  headlands,  bluffs  and  bays  are  nearly  all  in 
the  town,  which  probably  has  no  counterpart  in  out- 
line elsewhere  upon  the  globe. 

Geologically,  the  valle}rs  and  lowlands  lie  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Lower  or  Potsdam  sandstone  with  the  Low- 
er Magnesian  limestone,  so  that  the  wash  from  the  hills 
is  a  perpetual  source  of  fertility.  In  addition  to  this, 
the  town  is  in  the  very  focus  of  ancient  glacial  activity, 
which  not  only  scooped  out  the  lake  basins,  but  piled 
the  debris,  mixed  with  transported  material,  along  the 
skirts  of  our  hills  and  into  nearly  all  our  valleys.  The 
surface  may  be  said  to  be  nearly  all  rolling,  and  without 
levels,  other  than  marsh  grounds.  The  soil  is  gener- 
ally good,  and  its  fertilizing  qualities  likely  to  endure. 


556  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  MADISON. 

There  are  no  waste  lands,  or  too  little  to  make  a  note  of 
in  a  general  description.  On  the  Avhole,  our  half  a  town 
has  capabilities  exceeding  many  whole  ones  elsewhere. 

Our  population  numbers  now  about  1,000.  The  farms 
lead  all  other  pursuits.  We  have  six  or  seven  school 
districts,  no  churches,  one  or  two  saloons,  as  many  ho- 
tels, and  little  of  mechanic  arts,  manufacturing  or  mer- 
chandising, and  no  debt!  A  more  intelligent,  quiet, 
orderly  and  harmonious  people  cannot  be  found  in  the 
whole  state.  For  more  than  twenty  years  past  it  has 
been  difficult  to  get  any  one  to  qualify  as  a  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  during  part  of  the  time  we  have  rarely 
had  such  an  official;  and  the  same  is  equally  true  of 
constables.  With  few  exceptions  our  criminals  have  all 
been  imported,  and  were  not  "  to  the  manor  born." 

Eben  Peck,  the  first  person  who  located  on  the  site  of 
the  city,  is  also  credited  with  being  the  first  who 
''  broke  the  glebe  "  and  turned  the  first  furrow  in  the 
present  town  of  Madison;  and,  for  that  matter,  in  the 
county  of  Dane.  He  broke  about  three  acres,  a  little 
west  of  William  Larkin's  present  homestead,  in  1838, 
probably  under  the  impression  that  it  was  government 
land;  but,  finding  out  his  mistake,  abandoned  the  work, 
and  did  not  attempt  cultivation.  William  Lawrence 
made  a  settlement  near  the  north  line  of  the  town  of 
Windsor,  in  1838;  but  to  what  extent  he  broke  the  soil, 
if  at  all,  is  doubtful.  In  1839,  Abel  Dunning  and  Wil- 
liam D.  Bird  made  breakings  within  the  present  town, 
and  "  Esq.  Peaslee  "  did  the  same  on  the  "  76  farm,"  in 
Burke,  which  has  passed  through  so  many  proprietors 
since.  Wm.  B.  and  Gr.  H.  Slaughter  also  settled  in  Mid- 
dleton  in  the  same  year.  Dunning  sowed  crops  on  his 
breaking  in  1839,  but  Bird  and  others,  it  is  reported,  not 
until  the  next  year.  These  two  worthy  gentlemen  and 
pioneers  are  the  fathers  of  agriculture  in  Dane  county, 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS — -MADISON.  557 

preceding  in  date  all  others  now  remaining  or  living, 
and  have  continued  in  their  chosen  profession  from  the 
beginning.  Both  have  filled  many  public  stations  of 
great  usefulness  to  the  county,  but  none  as  conspicuous 
as  their  merits  deserved.  Neither  have  ever  had  leisure 
to  run  after  office;  and  when  they  have  accepted  trusts 
of  the  kind,  it  has  been  done  as  a  duty  owed  to  com- 
munity, rather  than  from  any  desire  for  place.  The 
beginners  of  our  farms  are  certainly  worthy  of  having 
their  names  commemorated,  and  of  every  honorable  dis- 
tinction in  the  power  of  the  community  to  confer. 

Among  others  of  our  pioneers,  the  names  of  James 
R.  Larkin,  Jonathan  Larkin,  Daniel  Larkin,  William 
Larkin  and  B.  F.  Larkin,  stand  prominently  and  con- 
spicuous as  a  family.  To  these  should  be  added  Har- 
mon J.  Hill,  Andrus  Viall,  Russell  and  Daniel  Sheldon, 
and  many  others  not  easily  enumerated  from  memory  — 
all  good  men — citizens  to  be  proud  of — worthy  in  all 
senses  to  have  assisted  in  founding  not  alone  a  town 
and  county,  but  the  state  as  well.  As  all  the  old  set- 
tlers in  the  city  belonged  to  the  town,  their  career,  in  a 
historical  sense,  is  a  part  of  our  heritage. 

List  of  Principal  Town  Officers  from  1846  to  1877. 
1S46.  Supervisors  —  Jamea  R.  Larkin,  cb'n,  Edward  Campbell,  Wm.  C. 
Wells,  lioad  Commissioners  —John  M.  Griffin,  Thos.  Rathbone,  Abiram 
Drakely.  Clerk-  —  J.  Duane  Ruggles.  Collector—  Andrus  Viall.  Treas- 
urer—  Darwin  Clark.  Assessors  —  Geo.  Vroman,  John  W.  Thomas,  Wil- 
liam Larkin.  School  Commissioners  —  J.  G.  Knapp,  Benjamin  Holt,  F.  H. 
Talcott.  Justices  —  Wm.  N.  Seymour,  Nathaniel  Wheeler,  Alonzo  Wil- 
cox.    Constables  —  John  Cottrill,  Jas.  Moore,  Albert  Skinner. 

1847.  Supervisors  —  Wm.  C.  Wells,  ch'n,  Chester  Bushnell,  Abel  Rasdall. 
Road  Commissioners  — 3.  t>l.  Griffin,  Lucius  M.  Palmer,  Daniel  Larkin. 
Clerk  —  J.  Ripley  Brigham.  Collector—  Squire  Lamb.  Treasurer  —  Dar- 
win Clark.  Assessors  —  Harmon  J.  Hill,  D.  A.  Barnard,  Nicholas  Smith. 
School  Commissioners  —  David  H.  Wright,  Benjamin  Holt,  A.L.Collins. 
Justices  —  Charter  Bushnell,  Allen  Harris,  Geo.  M.  Oakley.  Constables  — 
John  D.Welch,  Wm.  Rasdall,  Joseph  Pettin. 

1848.  Supervisors  —  Wm.  C.  Wells,  ch'n,  Casper  M.  Rouse,  N.  S.  Emmons. 
Road  Commissioners*— Clerk  —  Robert  L.  Ream.  Collector—  B.  P.  Lar- 
kin. Treasurer  —  Daniel  B.  Sneeden.  Assessors  —  Arch.  Tredway,  Alfred 
Main,  S.  M.  Van  Bergen.  School  Commissioners  —  Benj.  Holt,  John  Nel- 
son, D.  H.  Wright.  Justices  —  H.  J.  Hill,  Abram  Ogden,  B  M.  Caswell. 
Constables  —  Andrew  Bishop,  Alfred  Main,  John  D.  Welch. 

Fence  viewers  and  sealers  of  weights  and  measures  omitted. 

*  This  office  seems  to  have  been  abolished  by  the  legislature  of  1847. 


558  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS — MADISON. 


1840.  Supervisors  —  John  Nelson,  ch'n.  Andrus  Viall,  R.  F.  Davis. 
Clerk—  Robert  L.  Ream.  Collector — Office  abolished.  Treas urer  —  M. 
G.  Van  Bergen.  Assessor  —  Newton  Emmons  (but  one  elected).  Sv.pt.  of 
Schools  —  D.  II.  Wright  (but  one  elected).  Just  ices  —  Abram  Ogden, 
David  H.  Wright,  William  Welch.  Constables  —Alfred  Main,  A.  M.  Ras- 
dall,  Henry  Carman. 

1850.*  Supervisors  —  Wm.  N.  Seymour,  ch'n,  Joel  P.  Mann,  David  A. 
Barnard.     Clerk  —  Julius  T.  Clark. 

1851.  Supervisors  —  Leonard  J.  Farwell,t  Joel  P.  Mann,  Richard  T.  Davis. 
rh  rk  —  Johnson  J.  Starks.  Collector  —  N.  S.  Emmons.  Assessor  —  John 
T.  Wilson.  Supt.  of  Schools— J).  N.  Johnson.  Justices  —  Geo.  C.  Albee, 
Win.  N.  Seymour.  Constables  — Thos.  Heeran,  Squire  Lamb,  Wm.  II. 
Foot. 

1832.  Supervisors  —  Philo  Dunning,  ch'n,  Jas.  R.  Larkin,  Xavicr  Jordan. 
Clerk  —  James  Donnellon.  Treasurer — Casper  Zwickey.  Assessor  — 
Robt.  L.  Ream.  Sitpt.  of  Schools  —  Darwin  Clark.  Justices  —  Abram 
Ogden,  William  Welch.  Constables  —  Thos.  Heeran,  Jos,  Williams,  Isaac 
Robertson. 

1853.  Supervisors — J.  T.  Marston,  ch'n,  D.  A.  Barnard,  Wm.  D.  Bird. 
Clerk  —  James  Donnellon.  Treasurer  —  Carl  Habich.  Asssessor  —  C.  M. 
Rouse.  Supt.  of  Schools--  John  W.  Hunt.  Justices  —  Wm.  N.  Seymour, 
James  R.  Larkin.     Constables  —  Michael  Joyce,  Daniel  Cieghan,  F.  Guild. 

1854.  Supervisors — Jehu  H.  Lewis,  ch'n,  Earnest  Somers,  II.  J.  Hill. 
Clerk  —  James  Donnellon.  Treasurer  —  Ernest  Doerschlag.  Assessor  — 
C.  G.  Mayers.  Supt.  of  Schools  —  David  Holt.  Justices  —  Abram  Ogden, 
A.  B.  Braley.     Constables  —J.  L.  Roundy,  J.  P.  Howard,  C.  Cieghan. 

1855.  Supervisors  —  H.  J.  Hill,  ch'n,  S.  M.  VanBergen,  Richard  T.  Davis. 
Clerk  —  Willett  S.  Main.  Treasurer  —  Geo.  C.  Albee.  Assessor  —  (No 
record  made).  Supt.  of  Schools  —  Darwin  Clark.  Justices — Wm.  N.  Sey- 
mour, Wm.  Welch.  Constables  —  I.  E.  Brown,  Henry  Rouse,  Wm.  Mc- 
Pyncheon. 

The  legislature  of  1856  chartered  the  city  of  Madison,  and  the 
town,  in  area  nearly  as  now  organized,  held  its  election  in  April. 
The  following  were  the  first  officers  chosen : 

Supervisors  —  H.  J  Hill,  ch'n,  B.  F.  Larkin,  Philo  Dunning.  Clerk  —  H.  A. 
Tenney.  Treasurer  —  Daniel  Larkin.  Sunt,  of  Schools  —  Joseph  Chan- 
dler. Justices  —  Abel  Dunning,  Charles  E.  Morgan,  Caleb  Jewett  As- 
sessor—  Benjamin  Piper.  Constables  —  Chancellor  Hill,  R.  G.  Sheldon, 
Frank  Mahew. 

*I  And  no  entry  of  record  of  a  town  election  having  been  held  in  1S50. 
The  above  officers,  however,  are  recorded  as  having  served. 

+  Leonard  J.  Farwell  purchased  most  of  the  northeast  part  of  the  village 
in  1847,  visited  Europe  in  1848,  and  commenced  improving  his  estate  in  1849. 
Among  the  work  he  projected  in  1851,  was  a  large  amount  of  ditching,  etc. 
While  absent,  the  whigs  nominated  him  for  chairman  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors, and  it  was  at  once  seen  by  the  democrats  that  it  was  a  formidable 
name  to  run  against.  To  incite  the  needed  opposition,  Andrew  Bishop,  bet- 
in-  known  as  "Elder,"  harrangued  a  crowd,  saying,  in  substance,  "that  if 
Farwell  was  elected  he  would  put  the  town  into  $10,00.1  expense  for  ditching 
his  marsh,  while  his  opponent,  Barnard,  would  be  eminently  a  safe  man." 
Upon  this,  an  Irishman  on  the  outside  of  the  crowd,  nudging  another,  thus 
expressed  himself:  "Pat,  do  yes  mind  that  now?  If  Farwell's  elected  he 
will  spind  tin  thousand  dollars  a  ditchin'  the  marsh,  and  Barnard  niver  a 
cint.  Bisk  says  so.  Farwell's  the  man  for  us,  be  jabers.  Divil  a  ha'p'orth 
do  we  give  Barnard  a  vote."  The  result  of  Bish's  effort  was  to  give  Farwell 
the  whole  Irish  strength  — a  whig  victory  for  the  first  time  in  many  years. 
The  notoriety  given  to  the  event  made  Farwell  a  year  later,  governor  of  Wis- 
consin. Simeon  Mills  and  Gov.  Farwell  were  the  real  founders  of  about 
every  early  enterprise  to  improve  the  country,  and  make  Madison  what  it 
has  since  become.  "  Bish's  "  speech  was  the  prime  inspiration  of  Farwell's 
political  advancement,  aided  by  Col  Botkiu  and  others. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON.  559 

The  whole  number  of  votes  cast  at  this  election  wa«s  124,  as 
against  1,425  the  year  previous,  when  connected  with  the  city. 
The  vote  of  the  town  during  the  past  twenty  years  has  rarely 
reached  above  300,  and  then  only  in  very  exciting  elections. 

The  following  named  gentlemen,  in  the  order  given,  have  served 
the  town  in  the  offices  named  since  1846 : 

Chairmen  of  Hoard  of  Supervisors  —  H.  J '.  Hill,  two  terms,  W".  D.  Bird, 
Thomas  Reynolds,  two  term?,  H.  A.  Tenney,  Andrus  Viall,  Chancellor 
Hill,  two  terms,  Abel  Dunning,  two  terms,  Henry  Turvill,  Ed.  E.  Bryant, 
George  C.  Russell,  Henry  A.  Draper,  William  Windsor. 

Clerks  —  Charles  E.  Morgan,  Charles  L.  Ferris.  James  Kavanaugh,  three 
years,  Sinclair  W.  Botkiu,  two  years,  George  W.  Hortou,  George  H.  Mer- 
cer, William  J.  Pethcrick,  Myron  S.  Piper,  George  W.  Horton  in  18iit>,  1807, 
1868,  1870,  1871,  1872,  1873,  1874,  1875,  1876,  1877. 

Treasurers  —  Earnest  Somers,  Edward  Newcomh,  Michael  Dunning,  Benja- 
min Piper.  Iwo  years,  A.  Phillips,  C.  H.  French,  II.  J.  Hill,  Joseph  Chan- 
dler, S.  Williams,  Samuel  S.  Chase,  George  A.  Cary,  Chancellor  Hill,  E. 
Hammersly,  Charles  Nelson,  R.  W.  Kowe. 

Supt.  of  Schools  —  H.  A.  Tenney,  two  years,  Caleb'  Jewett  and  nenry  Tur- 
vill, two  years.  By  change  in  the  school  system,  this  office  was  abolished 
at  the  close  of  Mr.  Turvill* s  term. 


PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS. 

In  compiling  a  history  in  which  events  of  a  general 
character  are  recorded,  many  interesting  anecdotes  and 
pleasing  personal  recollections  are  frequently  uninten- 
tionally omitted.  We  purposed  giving  our  readers  a 
chapter  on  "Personal  Incidents  of  Pioneer  Life,"  but 
our  space  forbids  recording  more  than  the  following, 
the  first  of  which,  furnished  us  by  the  Hon.  Geo.  B. 
Smith,  is  a  simple  narative  of  an  act,  so  genuinely  un- 
selfish, that  it  will  be  rare  to  find  its  equal  any  where. 

A  good  many  years  ago  an  incident  occurred  here  in  Madison, 
illustrating  high  integrity,  great  generosity  and  singular  unselfish- 
ness, which  I  think  should  be  preserved. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Madison  were  two  single  men,  Robert 
Moore,  an  Englishman,  and  James  Dow,  a  Scotchman.  Robert 
was  always  called  "Bob,"  and  James  "Jimmie."  Jimmie  Dow 
lived  always,  when  I  knew  him,  all  alone  in  a  sort  of  hole  in  the 
ground  on  the  Sauk  road,  about  two  miles  west  of  Madison. 
"Bob"  lived  in  town  with  old  Uncle  John  Mallow,  a  brickmaker, 
with  a  large  family.  "  Bob  "  often  visited  "  Jimmie  "  at  his  cabin, 
in  fact,  I  think  he  made  "  Jimmie's "  house  his  headquarters. 
They  were  both  genial,  jolly  good  fellows,  and  both  excessively 


5G0  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON. 


fond  of  their  toddy.  "Bob"  was  famous  as  a  whistler.  Every 
year,  for  many  years,  he  used  to  whitewash  the  old  Capitol  fence, 
when  he  would  always  draw  crowds  by  his  remarkable  whistling:. 
"  Jimmie  "  was  a  well  digger,  and  often  worked  at  day's  work  with 
liis  team  of  mules,  which  he  always  owned  whde  I  knew  him.  He 
could  repeat  Burns'  poems  by  the  hour,  and  always,  to  use  his  own 
expression,  as  "dry  as  afesh."  One  afternoon  "  Bob  "  went  out  to 
"  Jimmie 's  "  and  in  the  evening  feeling  quite  unwell,  he  startled 
his  friend  "  Jimmie  "  by  telling  him  he  was  sure  he  should  not  live 
until  morning.  "Jimmie"  protested  that  he  was  only  fidgety 
and  frightened.  "Bob,"  was  deeply  impressed  that  he  should 
die  that  night,  and  he  said:  "'Jimmie,'  I  owe  you  for  bor- 
rowed money  thirty  or  forty  dollars,  and  I  owe  Uncle  John  Mal- 
low more  than  that  for  board.  Now,  Jimmie,  I  am  sure  I  shall  die 
before  morning,  and  if  I  do,  I  want  you  to  take  my  gun  and  a  note 
I  have  against  a  man  in  Columbus  for  $30,  all  1  have  in  the  world, 
and  give  them  to  Uncle  John,  for  he  is  poor  and  has  a  large  family 
to  support,  and  you  must  lose  your  debt.  If  I  live,  I  wih\pav  you 
both."  "Jimmie"  said  he  would.  Sure  enough,  "Bob"  did  die 
that  night.  When  the  funeral  was  over  "Jimmie"  took  the  gun 
and  the  note  to  Uncle  John  Mallow,  and  that  very  morning  he 
brought  the  note  to  me  at  my  house  for  collection,  and  told  me  this 
story.  I  collected  the  note,  Mallow  got  his  pay — "Jimmie"  lost 
his  debt.  "  Jimmie  "  remained  here  for  a  few  years  after  the  death 
of  Bob,  but  finally  left;  where  he  went  to  I  do  not  know.  Two  or 
three  years  ago  he  returned  to  visit  his  old  friends,  but  tliis  was  no 
place  for  "Jimmie."  I  did  not  see  him,  but  those  who  did,  said  he 
was  still  as  "  dry  as  a  fesh." 

Mr.  E.  M.  Williamson  says  that  Berry  Haney  and  Pelkie,  the 
Frenchman  referred  to  on  page  26,  had  the  dispute  about  a  claim 
of  land  in  Cross  Plains,  and  Haney  shot  the  Frenchman  through  the 
thigh,  the  ball  entering  the  folding  leaf  of  a  cherry  table,  and  which 
for  years  afterwards  was  shown  by  Haney  to  his  friends  as  a  curi- 
osity.    Haney,  however,  took  care  of  Pelkie  until  his  final  recovery. 

Mr.  E.  Burdiok  relates  that  Haney  at  one  time  borrowed  $50  of 
him  and  tendered  him  his  note,  which  he,  Burdick,  refused,  remark- 
ing that  it  was  a  matter  of  honor  between  Haney  and  himself,  and 
all  he  wished  was  that  the  money  should  be  returned  at  a  given 
date.  Haney  was  never  known  to  honor  liis  note,  but  this  matter 
of  verbal  promise  to  pay  was  the  highest  form  of  integrity  to  him, 
and  on  the  appointed  day  Haney  passed  over  the  lawful  amount 
with  a  nervous  earnestness  that  he  never  was  known  to  experience, 
at  any  other  time  when  his  note  of  hand  fell  due. 

Adam  Smith,  of  Sun  Prairie,  who  was  at  one  time  a  partner  of 
Abel  Rasdall,  relates  an  incident  which,  we  believe,  lias  never  been 
recorded  before.  Rasdell  kept  a  trading  store  on  the  east  side  of 
King  and  Webster  streets,  and  on  one  occasion  a  young  Indian 
entered  his  store  and  attacked  Mm  with  an  open  knife.  Rasdell 
was  unarmed,  but  after  guarding  the  blows,  was  finally  able 
to  wrench  the  knife  from  the  hands  of  the  Indian,  and  though 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON.  561 


wounded  across  the  back  of  his  fingers,  pursued  him  out  into  the 
street,  where  he  caught  and  threw  him  down,  and  then  struck  at 
with  the  knife,  while  he  held  him  down  with  one  hand.  The  knife 
each  time  struck  a  heavy  buckskin  belt  the  Indian  wore,  and  thus 
failed  to  injure  him.  The  father  of  the  young  man  coming  up  at 
the  time,  rushed  up  to  Rasdall  and  besought  him  to  spare  the  life 
of  his  son  and  take  his,  as  he  was  an  old  man  and  had  few  moons 
to  live.  Tin-  appeal  touched  the  heart  of  Rasdall.  and  though 
naturally  rash  and  vindictive,  he  allowed  the  young  man  to  get  up 
and  go  off  with  his  father  without  further  molestation. 

Wm.  Welch,  Esq.,  speaking  of  the  good  sayings  and  good 
things  that  are  left  slumbering  in  obscurity,  for  want  of  proper  can 
in  the  preserving  of  them,  and  which  would  go  far  to  the  exclusion 
of  so  many  trashy  books  that  are  palmed  off  on  the  public,  relates 
the  following  in  his  Home  Diary:  "  In  1857,  the  law  firm  of  Welch 
&  Lamb  was  established,  and  with  their  extensive  acquaintance  in 
the  county,  clients  multiplied  apace,  and  among  them  Mr.  John 
Foreman,  late  of  Deerfield.  In  1860,  the  State  Fair  was  ap- 
pointed to  be  held  in  Madison;  and  Mr.  Welch,  making  Mr.  Fore- 
man a  friendly  visit  at  his  farm,  bargained  for  a  dozen  spring 
chickens  for  home  consumption,  and  a  crock  of  good  butter,  which 
John  and  his  wife  were  to  bring  to  Madison  when  they  made  a  visit 
to  the  Fair,  and  to  stay  over  night  at  Mr.  Welch's.  John  and  his 
wife  came  according  to  agreement,  with  chickens  and  butter,  and 
passing  on  tlrrough  town  stopped  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Lamb,  who, 
eyeing  the  chickens,  eloquently  persuaded  the  couple  to  leave  their 
merchandise  with  him,  as  it  would  be  all  right,  it  making  no  par- 
ticular difference  which  of  the  partners  were  made  happy  by  the 
possession  of  the  fowls,  and  so  quietly  passed  them  from  John 
into  a  convenient  smoke  house  that  served  as  a  preservative  by 
smoke  or  otherwise.  John  and  his  wife,  after  satisfying  them- 
selves with  sight  seeing  at  the  Fair,  returned  to  Welch's  for  night 
quarters,  and  after  supper  related  their  adventure  with  Mr.  Lamb; 
and  imwilling  to  disconcert  the  sunshine  and  joy  on  the  honest  face 
of  the  two  good  soids,  Welch  admitted  it  would  be  all  right.  But 
t.'0  foul  a  deed  rankled  in  the  brea.st  of  Welch,  and  he  mentally 
shouted  revenge.  Peter  Parkinson,  Jr..  Mr.  Welch's  respected 
brother-in-law,  driving  up  to  the  house  at  the  time,  Welch  opened 
to  him  his  budget  of  grief,  and  both  agreed  to  cany  the  war  out 
that  very  night.  Proceeding  to  the  house  of  Lamb,  and  satisfying 
themselves  that  everything  was  quiet  in  the  house,  they  stealthily 
crept  up  to  the  smoke  house,  and  carefully  removmg  a  temporary 
door,  commenced  wringing  the  necks  of  the  chickens,  and  had  nearly 
complete-.!  their  operations  when,  to  their  horror  and  consternation, 
a  large  dog  rushed  out  at  them,  but  which  proving  to  be  a  six  months 
old  Newfoundland,  they  readily  made  friends  with  him,  and  finishing 
their  work  of  blood,  took  with  them  both  the  dog  and  chickens. 
The  following  morning  the  girl  prepared  the  chickens  for  breakfast, 
and  was  assisted  by  Mrs.  Foreman,  who  declared  that  the  chickens 
'•iooked  for  all  the  world  just  like  those  John  and  her  had 
brought  to  Deacon  Lamb's."     When  Lamb  reached  the  office  in  the 

36 


562  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MADISON. 


morning',  Welch  observed  some  perturbation  of  feeling  on  his  coun- 
tenance, but  supposing-  his  own  imagination  was  working  equally 
strong,  said  nothing  until  asked  by  Lamb  if  Foreman  and  wife 
had  stayed  with  him  over  night,  which  being  answered  in  the  af- 
firmative, he  again  asked  if  they  had  come  up  town  again  the  same 
evening,  and  being  answered  in  the  negative,  was  asked  why  he 
made  these  inquiries,  when  he  proceeded  to  relate  the  night's  theft, 
and  how  he  had  traced  the  foot  prints  of  both  a  man  and  a  woman 
in  his  lot,  and  had  them  measured  by  stick  and  ride.  At  this  junc- 
ture, Welch  involuntarily  withdrew  his  protruding  foot  and  sub- 
limely disclaimed  against  all  hen  roost  thieves,  until  Lamb,  thor- 
oughly satisfied  that  he  had  no  clue  to  the  robber,  quietly  charged 
himself  with  the  clnckens,  and  for  fifteen  long  years  remained 
ignorant  of  the  above  facts,  although  brother  Parkinson  with  some 
twinge  of  conscience,  tried  to  make  reparation  by  presenting  Lamb 
with  the  hah  of  a  hog." 

Madison  has  been  long  noted  for  her  excellent  staff  of  house  and 
sign  painters,  and  sometimes  in  the  display  of  the  latter  their 
patience  and  good  sense  have  been  strongly  imposed  on.  In  one  of 
the  wards  of  our  city  lying  between  here  and  Cottage  Grove,  one  of 
our  good,  quiet  and  honest  Germans  had  started  a  small  grocery 
store,  and  desired  the  aid  of  an  artist  of  the  brush  to  prepare  1dm  a 
suitable  sign  for  the  proper  announcement  of  his  merchandise.  The 
terms  and  price  not  being  satisfactory,  our  good  neighbor  bargained 
for  the  use  of  paint  and  brush,  as  he  had  once  some  knowledge  of 
the  art  himself,  and  could  do  a  "  leetle  dat  vay.11  After  a  labored 
effort  he  produced  the  following:  "  Lager  Beer  and  So —  me.  Gro- 
ceries." Another  equally  as  good  might  be  seen  in  the  First  ward  of 
our  city,  and  reads:   "  Going  oat  doing  whitewashing  taken  in  here." 

Education  is  a  great  helper  if  it  is  not  always  a  great  elevator; 
but  which  it  is,  we  are  not  prepared  to  say,  after  reading  the  follow- 
ing, prepared  and  held  by  one  of  our  painters  for  years  for  the  ex- 
pense incurred  in  its  execution  for  a  practicing  physician  in  a 
neighboring  village,  and  which  was  tastefully  lettered:  "  Dr. 
Wilber  B.  Dodge,  M.  D.,  Physician  and  Surgeon."  In  the  making 
of  books,  says  the  wise  man,  there  is  no  end,  and  so  might  it  be 
added  with  regaid  to  professional  titles.  They  are  weightier  than 
the  pretended  owners  of  them. 

When  Pinneo,  the  shingle  weaver,  was  in  want  of  a  drink,  he 
was  accustomed  to  go  to  Squire  Seymour,  who  kept  store  for  the 
Deans,  and  run  his  credit  until  the  shingles  he  had  wove  were  sold. 
On  one  occasion,  having  readied  the  utmost  limit  of  his  financial 
standing  with  the  Squire,  he  endeavored  by  persuasive  argument  to 
have  him  give  him  one  drink  more.  The  Squire,  however,  was  in- 
exorable, so  Pinneo  returned  to  his  shingle  establishment,  where  he 
found  Adam  Smith,  from  whom  he  borrowed  an  empty  pistol,  and 
with  a  bottle  hi  his  pocket  started  for  Deans1  store.  On  entering 
he  held  the  pistol  in  one  hand  and  the  bottle  in  the  other  and  de- 
manded that  the  Squire  should  fill  his  bottle.  The  fierce  attitude 
of  the  belligerent  brought  the  Squire  to  terms,  and,  after  filling  the 
bottle,  Pinneo  coolly  showed  him  the  pistol  was  unloaded. 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  VIENNA.;  563 


VIENNA. 


BY  HON.  A.  A.  BOYCE. 


The  town  of  Vienna  is  situated  on  the  north  line  of 
Dane  county,  and  is  midway  between  the  east  and  west 
lines  of  the  count}-.  The  town  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  the  town  of  Arlington,  in  Columbia  county,  on  the 
east  by  Windsor,  on  the  south  by  Westport,  and  on  the 
west  by  the  town  of  Dane.  It  occupies  the  township  of 
land  known  as  town  9  north,  range  9  east.  This  town- 
ship of  land  was  set  off  from  the  northwest  corner  of 
Windsor,  and  organized  as  a  separate  town  by  an  act  of 
the  second  state  legislature,  in  1849.  The  name  of  the 
town  was  derived  from  the  town  of  Vienna  in  the  state 
of  New  York,  from  whence  came  some  of  the  early  set- 
tlers. It  occupies  a  part  of  the  high  lands  that  di- 
vide the  waters  of  the  Wisconsin  from  those  of  Rock 
river.  Prom  the  northwest  part  of  the  town  the  waters 
fall  into  Lodi  creek,  a  small  tributary  of  the  Wisconsin, 
from  the  east,  and  south  the  waters  find  their  way  into 
Lake  Mendota  through  two  small  creeks,  one  on  the  east, 
the  other  on  the  southwest  border  of  the  town.  The  land 
is  sufficiently  undulating  to  afford  complete  drainage. 
There  are  no  marshes  of  any  considerable  extent.  The 
soil  is  principally  a  deep,  rich,  dark  loam  of  great  fertility. 
In  many  of  the  hills  and  ridges,  limestone  of  good  qual- 
ity for  building  purposes  is  found.  It  is  said  that  every 
quarter  section  of  land  would  make  a  good  farm.  Beau- 
tiful prairies,  interspersed  with  groves,  form  pleasing 
landscapes  of  great  beauty. 

The  principal  groves  are  called  Robertson's  Grove,  in 


561:  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VIENNA. 

the  north,  Norway  Grove,  in  the  center,  and  Hundred 
Mile  Grove,  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  town,  the  grove 
was  so  called  by  the  military  engineers  who  placed  the 
stake  in  the  grove  that  marked  the  one  hundredth  mile 
on  the  military  road  from  old  Fort  Crawford,  at  Prairie 
du  Chien.  This  road  extended  from  Fort  Crawford,  on 
the  Mississippi,  by  way  of  Fort  Winnebago,  at  the  port- 
age between  the  Wisconsin  and  Fox  rivers,  to  Fort  How- 
ard at  Green  Bay,  and  in  early  days  was  the  principal 
thoroughfare  from  the  southwest  to  the  pineries  of  the 
north.  It  passed  through  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
town. 

In  the  year  1838,  William  G.  Simons  (now  of  Lodi) 
entered  the  first  land,  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
21,  and  plowed  the  first  land.  The  next  year  he  built 
the  first  house,  with  the  intention  of  keeping  a  tavern 
on  the  projected  road  from  Madison  to  Fort  Winnebago, 
but  the  projected  road  taking  another  route  by  the  way 
of  Token  Creek,  he  left,  and  sold  the  land  to  Louis  Mon- 
tonda,  who  and  his  wife  Electa,  were  the  only  inhabit- 
ants for  two  years  within  the  present  limits  of  the  town. 
In  1812,  Montonda  moved  away  and  the  town  was  left 
Avithout  an  inhabitant  until  1815,  when  David  Robert- 
son and  Thomas  Lindsay  located  on  section  4,  where 
they  now  reside.  S.  Nicholson  settled  on  section  22. 
The  next  year  (1816),  Willard  Fisher  and  Joseph  Dem- 
ing,  with  their  families,  settled  on  section  21,  and  Ira 
Simons  and  Harvey  P.  Wheaton  moved  on  to  section  6; 
in  this  year  also  members  of  a  colony  from  and  near  the 
city  of  Leicester,  England,  settled  on  section  31,  being 
mostly  mechanics,  unused  to  farm  labor  and  the  hard- 
ships of  pioneer  life,  a  majority  of  them  left  and  sought 
homes  elsewhere.  Among  those  who  remained  and  im- 
proved their  farms  were  William  Plackett,  Jonah  Poy- 
nor,  William  Crow,  and  Jabez  Weston.     In  the  spring 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VIENNA.  565 

of  1847,  Adam  Paton  settled  on  section  4,  A.  A.  Boyce 
on  section  6,  Whiting  D.  Stanley  and  Aaron  Lamb  on 
section  7,  and  Benjamin  Nesmith  on  section  32.  A 
number  of  families  from  Norway  settled  in  the  central 
and  eastern  part  of  the  town.  Among  the  first  that 
came  were  Erick  and  Michael  Johnson,  with  their  fam- 
ilies, who  still  reside  on  their  farms.  During  this  and 
the  following  years,  many  more  settlers  arrived.  Robert 
Mann  and  Isaac  Mann  located  on  section  7.  Among  the 
early  settlers  who  still  occupy  the  farms  on  which  they 
settled,  are  Samuel  Pashley,  R.  McChesney,  Alexander 
and  Tims.  Paton,  M.  O'Dwyer,  W.  0.  and  Wm.  Fisher, 
R.  B.  Kellogg,  Ole  Hemundson,  Henry  Nelson,  T.  E. 
Farness,  Lars  Sampson,  T.  Errickson,  John  Ollis,  J.  and 
W.  Howie,  Aaron  Cooledge,  J.  Farwell,  S.  Raymond, 
H.  Cramer,  Jas.  Taylor,  R.  J.  Poynor,  Wm.  Plackett, 
J.  C.  Hustleby,  A.  J.  Damp,  S.  M.  Lester  and  A.  Rankin. 

The  first  town  meeting  for  the  election  of  town  offi- 
cers was  held  at  the  house  of  Willard  Fisher,  on  the  16th 
day  of  April,  1819.  and  the  following  officers  were  chosen: 
Sitjwrrisors,  A.  A.  Boyce,  chairman,  Willard  Fisher, 
and  Benjamin  Nesmith;  town  clerk,  Isaac  Mann; 
assessor,  Thomas  Lindsay ;  treasurer,  Jabez  Wes- 
ton; justices  of  the  peace,  A.  A.  Boyce,  Jonah  Poy- 
nor, Willard  Fisher,  and  Hubbell  Fuller. 

The  first  school  house  was  built  at  Hundred  Mile 
Grove,  on  section  7,  in  1851.  There  are  five  churches 
in  the  town,  the  first  church  erected  was  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  Church,  in  1851,  on  section  21;  then  followed 
the  Methodist  Church  on  section  31;  the  Seventh  Day 
Adventists  and  the  Catholic  Churches  both  on  section 
9,  and  the  Episcopal  church  on  section  32. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  town  have  been  peculiarly  ex- 
empt from  sickness.  The  high  and  dry  location  of  the 
lands   gives   them   a   pure   and   healthful   atmosphere. 


566  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  VIENNA. 

While  the  people  are  of  so  many  different  nationalities 
and  religions,  yet  greater  harmony  does  not  prevail  in 
any  town.  Few  crimes  have  been  committed,  and  pau- 
perism is  almost  unknown.  Schools  and  churches  are 
liberally  supported.  Many  of  the  young  people  avail 
themselves  of  the  educational  advantages  afforded  by 
the  State  University,  the  Normal  and  High  Schools. 

Two  railroads  come  within  the  limits  of  the  town. 
The  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway  crosses  the 
southwest  part  of  the  town,  the  Madison  and  Portage 
road  the  northeast.  The  stations  on  these  roads  afford 
good  and  convenient  markets  for  the  products  of  the 
farms  —  Morrison,  DeForest  and  Windsor  on  the  Mad- 
ison, and  Portage  road  ;  Waunakee,  Dane  and  Lodi,  on 
the  Northwestern  road. 

The  pioneer  settlers  underwent  many  privations. 
Among  those  most  severely  felt  was  the  want  of  a  good 
and  near  market.  Milwaukee,  almost  the  only  cash 
market  for  wheat,  was  nearly  one  hundred  miles  dis- 
tant, over  new,  and  at  times,  almost  impassable  roads. 
Frequently  the  expenses  of  marketing  a  load  of  wheat 
at  Milwaukee  were  greater  than  the  money  received  for 
the  load.  W.  D.  Stanley  used  to  relate  his  experience 
in  marketing  his  first  load  of  wheat  at  Milwaukee;  it 
was  in  the  fall  of  the  }*ear,  the  roads  were  bad  and  muddy, 
the  weather  rainy  most  of  the  time;  it  took  nearly  eight 
clays  to  accomplish  the  trip;  no  extraordinary  expenses 
were  incurred,  and  yet  so  little  did  he  receive  for  forty 
bushels  of  wheat  that  when  he  returned  home  all  he 
had  to  show  for  his  load  and  eight  days1  work  for  him- 
self and  team,  was  three  yards  of  sheep's  grey  cloth  and 
a  pound  of  tea. 

The  experience  of  another  neighbor  —  John  Overton, 
of  Dane  —  was  even  worse  than  that  of  neighbor  Stan- 
ley.    He  hired  a  3-oke  of  oxen  at  twenty-five  cents  per 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VIENNA.  567 

day,  his  own  oxen  not  being  sufficient  to  haul  forty 
bushels  of  wheat  to  Milwaukee  over  the  bad  roads;  he 
hired  a  wagon  at  twenty-five  cents  per  day;  he  paid  only 
ordinary  expenses.  After  paying  for  the  use  of  the  oxen 
and  wao'on,  he  found  that  the  f'ortv  bushels  of  wheat  did 
not  pay  expenses,  and  that  he  was  fifty  cents  in  debt. 

I  remember  marketing  a  load  of  wheat  in  those  early 
days  at  Madison,  selling  it  to  "  'Squire  "  Seymour  (then 
of  the  firm  of  Seymour  &  Varney),  for  forty  cents  per 
bushel,  in  "  store  pay."  Wheat  was  the  staple  farm 
crop;  in  fact  about  the  only  thing  raised  on  the  farm 
that  could  be  converted  into  money.  The  yield  of 
wheat  on  the  new  rich  lands  was  enormous;  forty  bush- 
els to  the  acre  was  not  an  uncommon  crop.  Now  such 
yields  of  grain  are  rarely,  if  at  all  obtained  —  not  even 
from  virgin  soil.  There  are  several  reasons  for  this: 
first,  insect  enemies  of  the  wheat  plant,  then  unknown, 
have  come  in  and  so  multiplied  as  to  completely  destroy 
the  crop  in  places,  year  after  year;  second,  the  success- 
ive crops  of  wheat  taken  from  the  same  lands,  without 
any  system  of  judicious  rotation  with  other  crops,  have 
taken  from  the  soil  the  elements  of  plant  food  necessary 
to  the  production  of  large  crops  of  wheat;  and  lastly, 
the  comparatively  few  acres  of  land  that  were  plowed 
by  the  early  settlers  drew  from  the  atmosphere  (nature's 
great  storehouse)  the  plant  food  that  now  would  be  di- 
vided among  many  times  the  number  of  plowed  acres. 

Many  of  the  first  settlers  entered  upon  the  lands 
without  first  purchasing  the  lands  from  the  government 
or  even  pre-empting  them,  simply  claiming  them,  using 
all  of  their  means  in  building  fences  and  other  improve- 
ments, and  farm  stock,  intending  to  make  from  the 
farm,  or  borrow,  money  sufficient  to  pay  the  govern- 
ment for  the  land.  The  right  of  the  settlers  to  the 
lands  they  claimed  was  generally  recognized  and  held 


56S  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  VIENNA. 

sacred  by  the  settlers,  who  protected  each  other  in  their 
rights,  and  cases  were  rare  where  claims  were  ''jumped" 
by  settlers.  Occasionally  some  land  speculator  would 
"  enter"  (or  buy  of  the  government)  the  lands  claimed 
by  settlers,  and  whenever  one  of  that  class  appeared,  his 
movements  were  watched  with  a  good  deal  of  anxiety. 

In  the  summer  of  1846  a  settler  was  informed  that  a 
stranger  on  horseback  had  been  in  the  neighborhood 
looking  land,  and  that  he  had  obtained  the  numbers  of 
the  lands  he  claimed,  and  had  left  in  the  direction  of 
Milwaukee  that  forenoon.     The  settler  had  not  money 
enough  to  buy  the  land  of  the  government,  but  he  had 
a  friend  living  on  Rowan's  creek,  eight  or  nine  miles 
away,  who  could  lend  him  money  sufficient  with  what 
he  had,  to  enter  his  land  at  the  land  office  at  Milwau- 
kee; so  he  determined  to  borrow  the  money  and  reach 
the  land  office  before  the  stranger.     He  had  no  horse  (I 
think  there  was  no  horse  owned  in  the  town  at  that 
time);   it   was   nearly   noon    when   he   started   for  his 
friend's;  he  was  fortunate  in  finding  him  at  home  and 
in  getting  the  money;  when  he  returned  home  and  com- 
menced his  journey  on  foot  to  the  land  office,  the  after- 
noon was  well  advanced.      He  reached  Cottage  Grove 
late  in  the  evening.     He  dare  not  enter  a  house  to  sleep 
for  fear  he  should  sleep  too  long,  but  Lay  down  by  the 
tavern  stable  door  where  he  knew  he  would  be  awaken- 
ed early  in  the  morning.     Before  sunrise  he  was  up  and 
on  the  road;  he  reached  Milwaukee  that  night.     In  the 
morning  he  entered  the  land  office  as  soon  as  it  was 
opened,  and  found  to  his  great  relief  that  he  was  in  time 
to  enter  the  land.     Before  leaving  the  office  a  stranger 
entered  to  buy  lands,  and  among  the  numbers  were  his 
own  lands  that  he  had  just  paid  for. 

Some  of  the  old  settlers  will  call  to  mind  an  occasion 
when  the  settlers  of  this  and  the  adjoining  town  of 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VIENNA.  569 

Dane  were  called  together  to  right  the  wrongs  of  a 
brother  settler  whose  claim  had  been  "jumped'"  The 
case  was  an  aggravated  one,  and  was  briefly  this:  A 
settler  was  living  on  a  claim  where  he  had  built  a  house, 
broken  and  fenced  a  field.  He  was  visited  by  a  former 
acquaintance  from  an  eastern  state,  who  came  to  buy 
lands.  The  settler  entertained  the  man  for  several  days, 
accompanied  him  a  day  or  two  in  looking  up  lands,  and 
assisted  him  in  getting  correct  descriptions.  With 
these  the  man  left  for  the  land  office  and  entered  the 
lands  claimed  by  his  entertainer,  and  returned  to  the 
neighborhood  and  demanded  possession  of  the  land.  The 
news  of  the  outrage  soon  spread  among  the  settlers. 
They  met  on  a  cold  December  (lay  at  the  house  of  the 
injured  settler,  and  caused  the  "  claim  jumper"  to  be 
brought  in.  A  justice  of  the  peace  was  conveniently 
near,  to  act  as  the  occasion  might  require  —  to  take  the 
acknowledgment  of  a  deed  or  hold  an  inquest.  The 
man  was  stubborn;  he  refused  to  receive  the  money  he 
paid  for  the  land  and  sign  a  deed  made  ready  for  his 
signature.  Threats  and  entreaties  were  alike  unavail- 
ing. At  last  it  was  determined  to  try  the  "  water  cure." 
He  was  taken  to  a  neighboring  pond,  a  hole  was  cut  in 
the  ice,  and  he  was  plunged  in.  In  his  case  the  cold 
water  cure  was  instantaneous  and  complete;  he  express- 
ed himself  not  only  willing  but  anxious  to  sign  that 
deed.  He  took  the  money,  signed  the  deed,  and  depart- 
ed, a  sadder  and  wetter,  if  not  a  wiser  man.  Few  per- 
sons except  early  settlers  fully  understand  the  inconven- 
iences and  hardships  of  pioneer  life  in  those  days.  Liv- 
ing for  years  without  a  reliable  market  for  their  pro- 
ducts, without  railroad  or  telegraph,  schools  or  churches. 
The  post  office,  store,  physician  and  mechanic  miles 
away,  and  perhaps  a  day's  drive  to  the  nearest  grist  mill. 
Those  early  pioneers  were  persons  of  robust  health,  and 


570  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS YOKE. 

inured  to  toil;  they  were  buoyed  up  with  hope  and  ex- 
pectation of  gain;  their  lives  were  not  devoid  of  happi- 
ness; they  were  kind  and  hospitable,  ever  ready  to  assist 
one  another.  Many,  even  now,  recall  with  pleasure  and 
regret  the  days  of  pioneer  life  in  old  "  territorial  times." 


YOEK. 


The  township  of  York  lies  in  the  northeast  corner  of 
Dane  county,  18  miles  northeast  of  Madison,  and  is 
known  as  town  9  north,  of  range  12  east.  The  land  in 
this  town  is  oak  openings  with  occasionally  marsh  or 
meadow  land,  there  being  no  prairie  within  its  borders. 
It  is  watered  in  the  southwest  part  by  Waterloo  creek, 
which  is  the  only  stream  in  the  town.  The  land  is  of 
good  quality  and  produces  excellent  crops.  There  are 
a  number  of  living  springs  that  afford  an  abundant  sup- 
ply of  water  in  the  town. 

It  is  divided  into  eight  school  districts  and  two  church 
organizations.  The  town  raised  $18,454.66  for  bounties 
during  the  rebellion. 

York  Center  is  the  name  of  a  small  village  at  the 
junction  of  sections  15,  16,  22  and  24.  It  has  a  store, 
blacksmith  shop  and  a  few  buildings. 

York  is  the  name  of  the  post  office. 

The  town  of  York  was  organized  April  1,  1848.  B. 
B.  Freeman  wras  chosen  chairman;  D.  E.  Emery  and 
Walter  Brown,  supervisors;  Martin  Mead,  justice  of  the 
peace;  Otis  B.  Lapham,  town  clerk. 


PANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VERONA.  571 


VERONA. 

BY  DONALD  MacDONALD  AND  J.  T.  HAWES. 

This  township  lies  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  the 
county,  nine  miles  southwest  of  Madison,  and  is  known 
as  town  six  north,  of  range  eight  east.  The  town  is 
well  watered  by  Sugar  river,  which  rises  in  the  town  of 
Cross  Plains,  and  has  also  two  branches  rising  on  section 
7  in  this  town,  flowing  southeast  and  passing  out  on 
section  thirty-four;  there  is  also  a  tributary,  called 
Badger  Mill  creek,  rising  on  section  thirteen  and  emp- 
tying into  Sugar  river  on  section  twenty-eight.  On  the 
banks  of  the  streams  there  are  excellent  marsh  and 
meadow  lands.  The  land  is  oak  opening  interspersed 
with  prairie. 

The  town  was  organized  on  February  17,  1847. 

The  first  settlers  were  two  Scotchmen,  named  James 
Young  and  Thomas  Stewart,  who  came  to  the  town  in 
1837.  They  were  engaged  in  the  butcher  business  in 
Galena,  and  afterward  were  employed  by  Edward  Camp- 
bell, of  Cross  Plains,  who  formerly  kept  the  relay  house 
for  the  stages  between  Madison  and  Mineral  Point. 

Early  one  Sunday  morning,  in  the  summer  of  1810,  a 
party  of  ten  or  twelve,  among  whom  were  George  and 
William  Vroman,  James  Young,  Thomas  Stewart  and 
Wakefield  Brothers,  started  out  in  a  wagon  from  Ed- 
ward Campbell's  house  (now  James  Bonner's)  to  explore 
the  upper  valley  of  the  Sugar  river.  After  wending 
their  way  down  the  valley  for  about  three  miles  thej*  came 
suddenly  upon  the  north  end  of  an  elevated  prairie,  and 
following  the  dividing  ridge  about  a  mile,  came  to  ten 
mounds,  nine  of  which  were  circular,  while  one  had  the 


572  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VERONA. 

form  of  a  mammoth.*  From  this  place  they  had  a  splen- 
did view  of  the  surrounding  country,  the  mounds  being 
quite  prominent  and  about  the  center  of  the  prairie. 
After  agreeing  to  call  this  beautiful  spot  Nine  Mound 
Prairie,  (section  8),  they  continued  their  journey  in  a 
southeast  direction,  and  came  to  what  is  now  called  the 
Badger  Mill  creek,  which  they  crossed.  On  either  side 
of  the  creek  they  found  a  beautiful  flat  or  level  piece  of 
land,  containing  several  hundred  acres  without  stones 
or  obstructions  of  any  kind,  and  covered  with  a  luxu- 
riant growth  of  grass,  while  the  soil  was  of  the  richest. 
This  tract  is  divided  by  Badger  Mill  creek,  with  Sugar 
river  coursing  the  west  side,  and  nearly  surrounded  by 
groves  of  hard  wood  suitable  for  building  and  fencing 
purposes.  "What  more,"  the}r  exclaimed,  "could  be 
desired  as  a  building  site  —  here  we  have  it?" 

On  the  left  bank  of  the  creek  a  promontory  with  an 
elevation  of  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  extending  out  about 
one-fourth  of  a  mile,  covered  with  timber,  and  com- 
manding an  extensive  view  of  the  flats,  was  the  spot 
where  the  two  hardy  Scots  resolved  to  make  their  future 
home. 

The  party,  proceeding  toward  .the  southern  extremity 
of  the  prairie,  found  a  number  of  prominent  mounds 
which"  they  examined;  christened  the  place  "  Mound 
Prairie,"  and  crossing  to  the  west  side  of  Sugar  River, 
made  their  way  back  to  their  starting  point. 

A  week  afterwards,  the  two  Scots,  James  Young  and 
Thos.  Stewart,  returned  to  take  possession  of  their  home, 
and  after  locating  on  the  south  side  of  the  creek,  on 
sees.  27  and  28,  they  made  an  excavation  into  the  side  of 
the  ridge  six  by  eight  feet,  and  then  roofed  it  with  poles 

*  One  of  these  mounds  was  opened  by  Dr.  Waterbury  ami  others, 
in  1847,  when  a  portion  of  a  human  skeleton  was  found  that  must 
have  belonged  to  a  person  not  less  than  six  feet  six  inches  in  height. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VERONA.  573 

and  grass.  Thus  prepared — being  both  bachelors — the}' 
stored  away  such  cooking  utensils  and  household  goods 
as  they  had  brought  with  them,  and  returned  to  bring 
the  remainder  of  their  goods  and  chattels,  with  the  in- 
tention of  keeping  "  batch,"  in  their  new  and  first  habi- 
tation built  by  white  men  in  the  township  of  Verona. 
During  their  absence,  a  heavy  thunderstorm  came  on 
during  the  night,  and  on  their  return  the  following  day 
from  Edward  Campbell's,  they  found  the  creek  had  be- 
come swollen  into  a  river,  whose  waters  they  did  not 
dare  to  cross.  Waiting  until  it  subsided,  they  passed 
over  without  difficulty,  but  only  to  find  the  contents  of 
their  new  abode  washed  away-  by  the  flood.  After  some 
searching  they  found  the  most  of  the  missing  articles 
where  the  water  had  left  them.  With  even  this  experi- 
ence, they  concluded  to  build  again,  but  this  time  above 
high  water  mark.  Moving  to- the  top  of  the.  promontory, 
from  which  they  had  the  commanding  view  of  the  fiats, 
on  their  first  visit,  they  commenced  digging  in  a  hori- 
zontal position  into  an  Indian  mound,  making  an  exca- 
vation ten  by  fourteen  feet.  During  the  digging,  they 
came  across  the  skull  and  bones  of  a  human  being,  which 
they  supposed  must  belong  to  one  of  the  race  of  the 
mound  builders;  but  dreading  more  the  dangers  of  floods 
than  the  dry  bones  of  past  mortalit}r,  they  continued 
their  work,  and  then  roofed  the  excavation  with  logs, 
and  poles,  thatching  it  with  grass  from  the  creek,  leaving 
a  suitable  place  for  a  chimney  at  the  end  of  the  domicile, 
and  suppling  the  entrance  with  a  door,  the  panels  of 
which  were  of  grass,  while  the  frame  was  made  with  an 
axe  and  augur,  as  lumber  and  nails  were  a  luxury  they 
could  not  then  dream  of  possessing.  This  hastily  con- 
structed home,  made  out  of  a  tomb,  was  a  comfortable 
abode  against  wind  and  rain.  But  while  supposing 
themselves  to  be  the  peaceful  possessors  of  their  home, 


57-A        DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS  —  VEEONA. 

it  was  matter  of  astonishment  to  them  to  find  that  they 
were  not  the  only  occupants  of  the  knoll.  A  large  and 
full  grown  lynx  was  occupying  an  adjacent  portion  of 
the  tomb,  and  was  concealed  from  them  by  the  under- 
brush, within  a  few  paces  of  their  door.  For  a  time 
they  concluded  not  to  disturb  him,  and  so  passed  and 
repassed  him  every  day,  until  they  discovered  that'  he 
liked  domestic  fowl  better  than  the  wild,  so  they  deter- 
mined to  make  him  move  his  quarters  elsewhere.  Thom- 
as armed  himself  with  a  club,  while  James  brought  forth 
"  Nicodemus 11  and  discharged  its  contents  into  his  lynx- 
ship.  Wounded,  but  not  disabled,  the  ferocious  brute 
sprang  from  his  lair  and  gave  them  battle.  Thomas 
charged  on  him  with  his  club,  and  by  a  well  directed 
blow  "  extinguished  the  varmint,"  and  thus  gave  them 
peaceful  possession  of  their  home  and  the  riddance  of  a 
bad  tenant. 

By  the  way,  "Nicodemus,'  was  a  favorite  fowling 
piece  upon  which  the  owner  had  bestowed  the  above  so- 
briquet, and  was  a  musket  of  no  ordinary  capacity.  It 
had  a  barrel  something  less  than  six  feet  and  a  bore  that 
could  swallow  a  Springfield  rifle.  When  fully  loaded 
and  discharged  the  report  would  shake  the  ground  and 
reverberate  among  the  hills  and  woods  for  miles  around. 
Game  that  once  heard  its  thunder  never  cared  to  come 
within  its  range  again.  In  after  years,  the  writer  had 
ample  opportunity  of  testing  its  good  qualities,  but  it 
was  always  a  matter  of  doubt  with  him  whether  it  was 
the  load  or  the  concussion  that  brought  down  the  game. 
One  thing  he  has  a  convincing  recollection  of,  however, 
that  its  recoil  often  brought  him  to  terra  firma. 

Trusting  the  reader  will  pardon  our  digression,  we 
will  now  return  to  where  we  left  our  pioneers  fairly  lo- 
cated in  their  new  home.  After  breaking  some  land, 
planting  corn  and  potatoes,  they  found  their  provisions 


DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  VERONA.  575 

had  given  out,  and  they  had  eaten  their  last  morsel  for 
breakfast.  A  supply  could  not  be  had  nearer  than  Ga- 
lena, about  ninety  miles  distant,  so  Thomas  hitched  the 
team  to  the  wagon  and  started  for  that  place.  While 
the  horses  stood  drinking  in  the  stream  it  occurred  to  him 
that  long  absence  from  civilization  had  not  improved 
his  toilet,  or  personal  appearance,  and  that  the  old  say- 
ing of  blackened  boots  and  a  clean  shirt  was  the  twin 
sister  of  u  cleanliness  and  next  to  Godliness,11  so  to  ap- 
pear before  the  fair  maids  of  Galena  in  commendable 
style  he  pulled  the  shirt  from  his  back  and  washed  it 
in  the  creek,  then  returned  it  to  its  legitimate  place 
on  his  back  and  drove  on,  trusting  to  an  iron- constitu- 
tion and  his  team  to  carry  him  to  where  he  could  get 
something  to  eat,  though  there  was  no  road  to  follow, 
and  still  less  no  bridges  to  cross,  but  a  wild,  uninhabited 
country  to  pass  through. 

In  the  meantime,  James,  more  accustomed  to  work 
than  hunt,  started  as  usual  to  the  fields,  accompanied 
by  "  Nicodemus,"  and  trusting  to  Providence  for  his 
dinner.  Noon  came,  but  no  game  had  crossed  his  path, 
and  as  it  was  useless  to  return  home,  there  being  noth- 
ing to  eat,  he  kept  on  working  in  hopes  of  driving  hun- 
ger away,  and  so  continued  in  the  field  until  the  sun 
was  disappearing  in  the  west  and  it  was  time  to  re- 
turn. On  arriving  at  the  house  a  flock  of  black  birds  flew 
past  and  lighting  in  a  large  burr  oak  tree,  within  a  few 
rods  of  the  door,  "  Nicodemus  "  was  instantly  brought 
to  its  proper  elevation  and  immediately  the  ground 
shook  as  by  an  earthquake,  the  hills  and  woods  gave 
back  the  echo,  while  the  denizens  of  the  field  and  forest 
fled  in  dismay.  Of  the  blackbirds,  nine  were  the  muti- 
lated victims,  but  speedily  gathering  them  up  James 
plucked  and  prepared  them  for  a  supper  and  breakfast, 
feeling,  however,  it  was  but  a  scant  supply  for  a  robust 


576        DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS  —  VEBONA. 

man.  The  following  day  a  prairie  hen,  hatching  in  the 
vicinity,  and  appearing  to  he  the  only  living  bird 
that  had  not  been  frightened  out  of  reach  or  existence 
made  its  appearance,  when  "  Nicodemus"  was  once  more 
brought  to  the  horizontal,  and  the  luckless  hen  fell  dead 
bereft  of  both  life  and  most  of  her  feathers.  Thankful 
to  a  bountiful  Providence  for  even  this  scanty  supply, 
he  was  thus  able  to  eke  out  enough  until  his  partner 
returned  from  Galena  with  plenty  of  provisions. 

This  coveted  spot  of  earth,  where  the  ancient  mound 
builders  laid  their  noted  dead,  and  heaped  the  earth  up- 
on them  for  an  everlasting  monument;  where  the  fero- 
cious lynx  made  his  den  and  the  pioneers  their  abode, 
is  now  occupied  by  the  modern  and  comfortable  resi- 
dence of  Donald  Stewart,  brother  to  the  pioneer.  Thos. 
went  to  California  many  3~ears  ago,  where  he  acquired 
a  fortune,  but  very  mysteriously  and  suddenly  dying, 
while  his  partner  in  business  equally  suddenly  disap- 
pearing, nothing  satisfactory  was  ever  known  about 
his  estate.  James  Young  is  at  present  a  resident  of 
Madison,  but  in  feeble  health,  though  still  delighting 
to  recount  all  the  privations  of  his  early  pioneer  life. 

Samuel  Taylor  was  the  next  settler.  He  built  the 
first  log  house  in  the  town,  and  which  still  does  good 
service  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  William  Ogilvie. 
Afterwards  came  Patrick  Davidson,  and  in  September, 
1841,  Wm.  Eeoch,  Peter  White,  Peter  Martin  and  fam- 
ily. Mrs.  Martin  was  here  two  years  before  she  saw  the 
face  of  another  woman.  Among  the  next  settlers  were 
Matthew  Hawes,  Andrew  Patton,  William  Collins,  and 
Magnus  Leslie,  with  their  families.  Settlers  now  be- 
gan to  come  in  quick  succession. 

Badger  Mill's  was  built  by  Wm.  A.  Wheeler  and  Geo. 
Vromau,  in  1843-4,  and  sold  to  Taylor  &  Weston.  On 
the  completion  of  the  mill  a  grand  ball  was  given  in 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VERONA.  577 

honor  of  the  first  grist  mill  in  the  county,  and  the  mu- 
sic for  the  occasion  was  furnished  by  Pritchard's  band. 
A  few  years  afterwards,  the  mill  became  the  property  of 
Samuel  Taylor. 

The  first  threshing  machine  brought  into  the  county 
was  imported  from  Scotland  by  Patrick  Davidson,  liv- 
ing on  section  33;  but  being  stationary  it  was  used  only, 
for  a  few  years,  when  it  gave  place  to  the  portable  ma- 
chines, of  American  make. 

Whisky  was  first  made  from  malt  by  John,  a  younger 
brother  of  Thos.  Stewart,  in  1843— 1,  on  section  28,  out  of 
an  imported  copper  still,  the  size  of  a  tea  kettle.  It  was 
used  for  many  years  in  distilling  a  good  quality  of  Scotch 
whisky,  whose  praise,  as  well  as  the  liberality  of  the 
manufacturer,  was  lauded  far  and  near  over  the  sparsely 
settled  country.  The  days  that  brewing  was  going  on,  it 
was  surprising  to  see  with  what  instinct  the  wounded 
bucks  would  head  for  the  still;  at  least  the  hunters  al- 
ways claimed  they  had  lost  the  trail  at  this  spot  or  very 
near  it,  and  would  give  up  the  chase  for  the  day.  Tired 
and  thirsty,  these  hunters  would  drop  in  to  see  how 
Scotch  whisky  was  made,  when  John  would  refresh 
them  with  draughts  of  the  double  strong,  fresh  from 
the  still,  which  he  freel}*  dealt  out  in  a  quaigh,*  and 
many  a  hunter  started  home  fully  convinced  that  the 
"  Scotch  "  was  all  it  was  said  to  be,  and  perhaps  a  little 
more.  The  kiln  for  drying  the  malt  was  made  after  the 
pattern  of  a  hundred  years  ago,  and  was  a  circular  pit 
dug  in  the  ground,  covered  with  a  conical  shaped  roof 
and  a  hole  in  the  center  to  allow  the  smoke  to  pass  out. 
The  drying  floor  was  made  of  poles  laid  close  together 

*  Pronounced  Kivd,  a  small  drinking  cup,  made  either  of  wood,  the 
horn  of  an  animal,  or  silver.     The  horn  was  used  by  hunters  for 
convenience  against  breaking,  but  on  festival  occasions  in  Scot- 
land, during  fuedal  times,  the  silver  cup  was  used. 
37 


578  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VEEONA. 

and  covered  with  straw.  On  this  the  malt  was  spread 
to  dry,  with  a  tire  underneath.  The  process  needed 
constant  attention  night  and  day. 

An  incident  connected  with  the  drying  is  related  of 
three  young  Scotchmen  who  volunteered  to  sit  up  all 
night  and  dry  the  malt.  The  generous  freedom  granted 
to  all  who  came  to  visit  the  still  did  not  prevent  the 
young  men  from  smuggling  a  "  stoup  "  of  Scotch  to 
keep  up  their  spirits.  Not  aware  of  this  fact,  John  fur- 
nished them  with  a  liberal  supply,  that  the  weary  hours 
might  pass  more  cheerie.     Weary  hours,  forsooth! 

Three  blither  hearts  that  lee-lang'  night 
Ye  wad  na  find  in  Christendie, 

and  along  thro'  the  "  wee  sma'  hours  "  these  "  drouthy 
neebors  "  would  pass  around  the  stoup,  until  one  of  the 
party  was  often  heard  to  say:  "  I  dinna  like  the  toddy; 
I  like  my  whisky  dry."  The  supply  giving  out,  and 
concluding  that  the  malt  was  as  dry  as  themselves 
now  were,  they  resolved  to  start  for  home;  but  to  make 
sure  that  the  work  was  complete,  made  up  one  more 
fire  and  then  left  for  the  house,  half  a  mile  distant. 
Arriving  there  they  turned  round,  and  looking  in  the 
direction  from  which  they  had  come,  beheld  a  bright 
glow  in  the  southeast.  While  they  stood  wondering 
at  the  sight,  one  of  them  involuntarily  sang  — 

"  It  is  the  moon,  I  ken  her  horn, 

That's  blinking  in  the  lift  sae  hie, 
She  shines  sae  bright  to  wyle  us  haine, 
But  by  my  sooth  she'll  wait  a  wee.'' 

Morning,  however,  revealed  to  them  the  fact  that  the 
mysterious  glow  in  the  southeast  was  the  flames  of  the 
malt  and  kiln,  that  having  caught  fire,  had  burned  to 
ashes. 
The  first  public  house  in  town  was  kept  by  Cheney  Luce, 


DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS VEKONA.        579 

and  culled  the  "  Traveler's  Home.'1  Joseph.  Flick  was 
the  first  blacksmith  and  postmaster;  Dr.  Spencer  the 
first  physician,  who  was  followed  by  Dr.  Waterbury.  R. 
Bunlap  opened  the  first  store,  on  section  21;  and  the 
first  school  house  was  built  on  the  west  side  of  what  is 
now  the  Dane  County  Poor  Farm,  and  was  known  as 
the  Badger  Prairie  school  house,  and  the  first  teacher 
Amy  Thornton. 

The  town  received  its  name  from  Geo.  and  Win.  Vro- 
man,  after  their  native  township  in  New  York..  The 
first  post  office  also  retained  the  name  of  the  town.  In 
1854,  the  county  purchased  of  Win.  A.  Wheeler,  his 
farm  on  section  14,  for  county  poor  purposes,  and  built 
a  brick  house  10  by  60  feet,  with  basement,  and  two  sto- 
ries and  a  half  high,  since  which  other  buildings  have 
been  added.  • 

The  physical  character  of  the  town  is  something  well 
worthy  of  note.  The  outline  is  distinctly  marked  by  a 
ridge  of  boulders  and  gravel,  which,  during  the  glacial 
period  on  our  planet,  had  been  pushed  forward  by  a  dense 
body  of  ice.  This  ridge  intersects  the  north  line  of  the 
township  on  sec.  5,  and  extends  diagonally  across  the 
south  line  on  sec.  36.  Nowhere  south  or  west  of  the 
foot  of  this  ridge  are  there  any  boulders  or  gravel  to  be 
found,  except  where  the  water  may  have  forced  pass- 
ages through.  This  can  be  seen  best  on  sections  5, 
16  and  22.  On  the  first  section,  where  the  waters  have 
forced  a  passage  through  the  ridge,  immense  boulders 
have  been  carried  down  the  water-course  a  distance  of 
half  a  mile;  on  sec.  16  an  opposing  bluff  crowds  the  wa- 
ter close  to  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  forming  a  deep  and 
narrow  gulch,  where  the  lime  rock  can  be  seen  project- 
ing from  the  bluff  on  the  right,  and  boulders  and  gravel 
on  the  left.  Here,  also,  large  boulders  have  been  car- 
ried along  half  a  mile  or  more.     Again,  on  sec.  22,  at 


5S0        PANE  COUNTY  TOWNS VERONA. 

Badger  Mills,  we  find  another  gap  in  the  ridge.  Here 
the  water  has  strewn  boulders  down  the  creek  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile,  the  smaller  ones  being  carried  farthest 
down. 

Among  the  other  curiosities  to  be  seen  are  the  "  sink 
holes  "  on  sees.  17  and  18,  as  well  as  other  places  in  the 
west  part  of  the  township.  The  holes  are  pits  or  de- 
pressions in  the  ground,  some  of  which  are  twenty-five 
feet  deep  and  thirty-five  feet  across  the  mouth.  Al- 
though there  is  no  apparent  opening  at  the  bottom,  all 
the  water  that  flows  into  them  is  drained  off  as  fast  as  it 
runs  in.  These  holes  have  evidently  been  formed  by 
the  action  of  the  water,  percolating  through  into  sub- 
terranean channels,  and  washing  the  loose  soil  along 
with  it. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  recollect  seeing  the  "  blue 
rings  "  on  the  prairies;  but  the  plow  has  now  obliterated 
most  of  them.  Two,  however,  are  still  to  be  seen  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec.  17, 
where  the  husbandman  has  not  yet  intruded.     These 

O circles  are  about  forty-two  feet  in  diameter, 
with  an  opening  at  one  side  of  about  three 
feet,  reminding  one  of  a  circus  ring.  The 
belt  itself  is  about  two  feet  wide,  and  as  near 
a  circle  as  can  be.  There  is  nothing  to  show  that  there 
had  ever  been  an  elevation  or  depression  of  the  soil;  but 
it  shows  a  darker  color.  The  grass  does  not  differ 
from  that  on  either  side,  except  that  it  starts  earlier  in 
spring;  grows  faster  and  shows  a  deep  blue  color,  hence 
the  name  given  to  the  ring.  Stock  of  all  kind  crop  this 
grass  close  to  the  ground,  while  that  on  either  side  will 
remain  untouched.  We  have  seen  many  of  those  circles, 
and  they  all  look  alike,  but  can  give  no  explanation. 
Who  can? 

Game,  in  the  way  of  bears,  wild  turkeys,  etc.,  were 


DANE  COUNTY  TOWNS  —  VERONA.        581 

very  plenty  for  a  number  of  years  after  the  first  settlers 
came,  but  neither  of  the  former  are  now  to  be  found. 
The  curlew  was  also  a  frequenter  of  this  section,  but  has 
disappeared  for  many  years. 

There  are  six  district  and  joint  district  schools;  three 
churches,  one  Presbj'terian,  one  Baptist,  and  one  Meth- 
odist. There  is  also  a  large  number  of  Indian  mounds 
scattered  throughout  the  town.  Patrick  Davidson  lived 
for  many  years  in  one  of  these  mounds,  on  his  land  on 
section  33,  and  it  was  remarkable  for  its  warmth  in 
winter  and  general  comfort  in  summer. 

There  are  now  but  few  of  the  old  settlers  remaining, 
but,  nevertheless,  many  of  the  youths  of  those  times, 
now  grown  to  maturity  can  recall  the  glad  glee  with 
which  they  hailed  the  social  gatherings  that  came  year 
after  year,  when  Willie  Reoch  would  "skirl  his  pipes," 
or  "scrape  his  fiddle,''  and  they  could  dance  the  "hieland 
fling.'1  William  is  still  as  nimble  in  the  heel  or  hand 
as  ever,  and  bids  fair  to  play  either  pipe  or  violin,  at 
many  gatherings  yet  to  come.  Patrick  Davidson  is  also 
still  among  us,  and  whose  reputation  as  the  best  pibroch 
player  in  the  county  still  remains  undisputed. 

On  section  5,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  on  the 
farm  of  D.  Richardson,  there  is  a  cave  that  has  not  yet 
received  the  proper  attention  of  either  the  savans  of 
science  or  the  local  interest  of  the  citizens,  and  it  is 
hoped  that  at  some  clay  near  at  hand,  an  effort  will  be 
made  to  open  the  mouth  of  this  singular  natural  curi- 
osity.*    We  cannot  better  describe   this  cave  than  to 

*A  mystery  hangs  round  the  cave,  which  has  perhaps  been  inten- 
sified by  the  recollection  of  an  adventure  that  occurred  to  two  of  our 
citizens  when  hi  it,  and  though  it  might  have  proved  fatal,  it  could 
not  possibly  have  occurred  had  a  little  more  care  been  taken  in  pro- 
viding enough  lights  to  cany  with  them.  The  mouth  of  the  cave 
is  under  a  ledge  of  rocks  that  hangs  over  a  small  valley  of  which  it 
is  the  terminus,  liefore  the  rains  had  washed  so  much  debris  as 
now  exists  around  its  entrance,  there  was  a  large  enough  opening 


582  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  VERONA. 

quote  from  the  article  by  Maj.  H.  A.  Termey,  in  Divi- 
ne's "  Four  Lake  Country." 

'•  About  11  miles  distant,  and  a  little  southwest  of  Madison,  near 
the  crest  of  the  dividing  ridge  which  separates  the  lake  region  from 
the  valley  of  Sugar  river,  there  exists  the  basin  of  an  ancient  pond 

for  any  person  to  pass  in  and  out  conveniently.  Mr.  Jas.  Waddell 
and  a  Mr.  Goodrich,  started  one  morning  on  horseback  to  examine 
the  cave,  providing  themselves  with  candles,  entered  and  pro- 
ceeded to  investigate  the  interior,  previously  tying  their  horses  out- 
side. The  fascination  of  desiring  to  continue  their  search  farther 
than  they  had  provided  lights  for,  led  them  so  far  that  their  last 
candle  was  nearly  exhausted  ere  they  thought  it  prudent  to  return. 
Unable  to  retrace  their  steps,  however,  before  it  gave  out  entirely, 
one  of  them,  taking  off  his  shirt,  tore  it  into  strips,  and  lighting 
them,  made  some  progress  in  the  direction  from  which  they  had 
come.  The  cotton  strips  becoming  exhausted,  they  were  left  in  the 
solitude  of  the  unknown  cave,  and  sitting  down,  felt  themselves 
worse  than  lost  —  buried  alive.  Meanwhile,  one  of  the  animals 
that  had  been  tied  to  the  trees  broke  loose,  and  coming  home,  cre- 
ated considerable  anxiety  to  the  wife  and  brothers  of  Mr.  Waddell. 
The  two  brothers,  John  and  Walter,  knowing  that  James  had  gone 
to  the  cave,  immediately  supplied  themselves  with  a  rope  and  can- 
dle, and  proceeded  in  search  of  him,  dreading  that  some  choke  damp 
had  destroyed  his  life.  Arriving  at  the  cave  they  cautiously  entered, 
and  lighting  their  candle,  one  stood  near  the  mouth  and  held  the 
rope,  while  the  other  took  one  end  of  it,  and  with  the  light  started 
further  in,  calling  his  brother  by  name. "  Repeated  shouting  brought 
no  answer,  until  mental  anxiety  getting  the  better  of  both,  they 
dispensed  with  the  rope  and  proceeded  together  further  in,  repeated- 
ly calling  as  they  went.  At  length  a  faint  response  was  heard  in 
a  distant  part  of  the  cave,  and  as  each  hurried  to  the  other,  the 
sound  grew  more  distinct,  and  finally  brought  the  two  lost  men  to 
their  side,  overjoyed  at  their  fortunate  escape  from  a  living  tomb. 
The  four  men  now  endeavored  to  return,  but  it  seemed  evident  for 
some  time  that  it  was  impossible.  The  intricate  passages  on  every 
side  of  them  seemed  to  baffle  every  effort  to  retrace  their  steps,  while 
their  nearly  exhausted  candle  gave  them  but  little  hope.  Seeking 
for  the  outlet,  Walter  discovered  on  a  number  of  the  pillars  support- 
ing the  arches,  a  portion  of  the  rock  assuming  the  shape  of  a 
spear  >  or  arrow  head,  and  always  pointing  one  way.  Conclud- 
ing to  follow  these  marks,  they  finally  found  them  point  toward  the 
mouth  of  the  cave,  where  they  soon  arrived  in  safety  about  twelve 
o'clock  in  the  evening.  With  deep  gratitude  for  then-  fortunate 
deliverance  and  second  escape,  they  made  all  possible  haste  to  re- 
lieve the  anxiety  of  those  at  home,  feeling  satisfied  that  the  deep 
and  intricate  passages  of  the  cave  were  no  longer  a  myth  to  them. 
It  is  supposed  by  some  that  the  marks  on  the  pillars  were 
caused  by  the  action  of  the  water  as  it  rushes  through  the  passages 
during  the  heavy  rain-falls;  but  these  men  were  of  the  impression 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VERONA.  583 

or  lake  covering  about  four  thousand  acres,  whose  waters  have  long- 
since  departed,  and  whose  drainage  is  directly  into  the  face  of  a 
bluff.  This  inlet,  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  was  penetrated  to  a 
depth  of  nearly  two  thousand  feet,  and  yet  has  never  been  fully  ex- 
plored, or  its  mysterious  depths  examined  by  mortal  eye.  It  is 
about  Eve  hunch-eel  feet  above  the  level  of  the  four  Lakes,  and  the 
openings  apparently  tend  to  the  west.  Sugar  river  is  about  one  and 
a  half  miles  distant,  but  no  evidence  has  ever  been  discovered  to 
warrant  the  belief  that  these  waters  anywhere  enter  or  make  a  part 
of  that  stream.  All  indications,  indeed,  point  to  the  certainty  that 
it  is  an  entrance  to  thai  vast  subterranean  river  system  known  to 
permeate  the  lead  region  at  a  great  depth,  and  whose  unknown 
outlet  may  be  hundreds  of  miles  away.  Early  explorers  always 
halted  from  fatigue  or  lack  of  adequate  preparation  to  proceed,  and 
not  because  the  way  was  not  open;  but  nothing  like  an  end  has 
ever  been  reached. 

"  The  deposit  in  which  this  immense  grotto  exists,  is  the  cliff  or 
upper  magnesian  limestone,  which  at  this  point  is  known  to  be  un- 
derlaid by  a  sandstone  formation,  whose  thickness  is  probably  forty 
or  fifty  feet.  That  the  channel  has  been  cut  down  to  this  more  fria- 
ble material,  at  some  point  of  its  course,  is  not  doubted,  and  hence 
it  is  naturally  concluded  that,  if  followed  to  the  line  of  junction,  the 
dimensions  of  the  cave  would  swell  to  collossal  proportions.  As  it 
exists  at  present,  there  are  four  narrow  entrances,  badly  choked  by 
the  debris  fallen  at  the  mouth,  or  material  carried  in  by  cm-rents. 
The  two  most  southern  openings  unite  at  the  distance  of  some 
fifty  or  sixty  feet,  from  whence  cavern  succeeds  cavern,  so  far  as 
known,  for  thousands  of  feet.  Once  within  this  rocky  chamber, 
there  was  formerly  no  serious  obstacles  to  progress ;  but  the  present 

that  they  gave  evidence  of  having  been  cut  by  human  hands,  per- 
haps by  Indians,  and  that  at  one  time  the  cave  was  known  to  them 
in  all  its  intricate  windings  by  these  marks. 

The  first  white  man  known  to  have  entered  the  cave,  was  John 
MacDonald,  jr.,  who  in  1845  went  in  about  eight  in  the  morning 
and  losmg  his  way,  was  unable  to  make  his  escape  untd  far  on 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day.  His  intention  was  to  go  no  far- 
ther than  he  couid  observe  the  rays  of  light  reflected  from  the 
mouth,  and  which  he  endeavored  to  keep  steadily  watching,  by 
walking  in  a  half-turned  position  from  the  mouth  to  the  interior. 
Finally  thinking  he  had  lost  the  light,  he  started  back,  and  was  only 
able  to  extricate  himself  as  above  stated.  His  case  would  have 
been  a  hopeless  one,  had  he  been  unable  to  find  his  way  out,  as  none 
of  his  friends  knew  of  his  intention;  indeed,  it  was  only  a  thought 
of  the  moment  with  himself. 


5S4:  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  VERONA, 

difficulty  of  entrance  has  kept  thousands  from  the  spot.  It  has  also 
had  the  effect  of  keeping  the  walls  of  the  interior  openings  in  a 
much  damper  condition  than  they  otherwise  would  he,  hy  prevent- 
ing the  draft  of  outer  air,  which  passes  steadily  through  the  whole 
known  extent  of  the  cavern.  The  far  inner  rooms  have  all  the  usual 
characteristics  of  the  most  noted  caves  in  the  country.  Pendent 
stalactite  has  its  corresponding  stalagmite,  at  present  much  discol- 
ored 1  >y  the  newly  added  sediment.  The  walls  are  worn  into  strange 
and  fantastic  shapes,  and  everywhere  exhibit  the  erosive  power  of 
rushing  water.  Long  corridors  and  halls,  whose  smooth,  rocky 
sides  would  seem  to  bid  defiance  to  any  power,  connect  the  numer- 
ous vestibules  and  chambers,  some  of  which  are  from  twenty  to 
thirty  feet  in  height,  and  of  great  and  almost  unknown  depth. 

"  That  the  cave  consists  of  several  stories  is  evident  from  numer- 
ous indications,  both  exterior  and  interior.  It  is  proved  by  the 
sound  of  voices  when  large  parties  tire  exploring  the  numerous  ram- 
ifications; by  variations  m  level;  and  more  particularly  by  a  whirl- 
pool in  seasons  of  flood,  outside  the  entrance,  which  proves  that  the 
ancient  channel  has  been  choked  by  fallen  rocks,  and  underlies  the 
whole  cavern  thus  far  examined.  It  is  still  further  proved  by  the 
clean  cut  bank  of  the  outside  water  course,  whose  bottom  is  several 
feet  below  the  present  entrance  —  an  impossible  achievement  if  they 
were  the  natural  inlet.  Still  further,  no  pond  or  water  ever  remains 
in  front  of  the  cave,  in  the  basin  below  the  existing  entrance  level, 
which  would  be  impossible  if  it  did  not  have  a  subterranean  escape. 
<  >nce  cleared  of  accumulated  debris,  and  instead  of  one  or  more, 
there  would  probably  be  found  a  cave  of  several  stories,  the  lower 
of  which  would  amply  suffice  to  drain  the  region,  leaving  the  oth- 
ers ordinarily  dry  and  intact.  Until  this  is  done,  the  full  extent 
and  beauty  of  this  mighty  freak  of  nature  will  never  be  fully  known 
or  appreciated.  Parties  living  close  at  hand  give  wonderful  accounts 
of  the  phenomena  witnessed  after  great  and  sudden  floods,  when 
the  waters,  dammed  back  by  the  choked  entrance,  rise  ten  or  fifteen 
feet  against  the  face  of  the  cavern,  compressing  the  inner  air,  which 
i  -rapes  through  small  fissures,  to  the  crest  of  the  hill,  with  a  hiss  and 
a  roar  somewhat  akin  to  the  shriek  of  a  steam  whistle.  At  one 
spot,  indeed,  the  conversation  of"  parties  deep  in  the  cave  can  be 
heard  directly  overhead,  showing  that  if  extra  ventilation  was  ever 
needed  it  could  be  easily  provided  for.  Anything  like  floods,  in 
this  elevated  basin,  however,  are  extremely  rare,  and  could  only  oc- 
cur after  long  continued  rams,  or  the  sudden  melting  of  great  and 
heavy  bodies  of  snow.    No  rainfall  from  May  to  November  has 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VERONA.  5S5 

ever  been  known  large  enough  to  send  any  water  into  the  opening, 
nor  does  any  enter  during  the  months  of  winter. 

Rev.  Matthew  Fox,  for  many  years  in  the  early  set- 
tlement of  the  town,  preached  with  great  zeal  and 
earnestness  to  attentive  audiences,  and  though  ministe- 
rial labors  were  but  poorly  compensated,  says  he  was 
gratified  to  know  that  the  poor  had  the  gospel  preached 
to  them.     He  says: 

Mr.  George  Robinson  opened  Ins  house  at  the  Badger  Mills  for 
religious  services,  and  early  on  Sunday  mornings  would  arrange 
seats  for  the  congregation,  which  two  rooms  generally  accommoda- 
ted. Not  having  a  pulpit  or  substitute  for  one,  I  took  position  as 
convenience  dictated.  On  one  occasion  I  was  in  one  room  and  the 
gentleman  who  undertook  to  lead  the  singing  in  the  other,  and 
out  of  my  view.  After  my  reading  a  hymn,  the  precentor  for  the 
time  being,  raised  his  voice  to  start  the  tune,  but  made  a  failure; 
he  made  another  effort  —  it  was  desperate  —  but,  alas,  it  also  proved 
a  failure.  Then  the  cry  of  despondency  came,  "  I  can't  make  it  go." 
So  it  remained  for  me  to  remove  the  difficulty  the  best  way  I  could. 

After  some  time  a  log  school  house  was  bmlt  on  the  west  side  of 
Sugar  river,  near  the  residence  of  Andrew  Patton.  This  served  as 
our  place  of  worship  for  years. 

Mr.  Peter  Martin  was  the  first  elder  of  the  church.  In  him  I  found 
a  wise  counselor,  a  pleasant  companion,  a  warm  friend  and  a  sincere 
Christian.  He  and  his  excellent  wife  have  long  since  passed  to  their 
heavenly  home.  I  gave  place  to  the  Rev.  Jas.  M 'Donald,  from  Scot- 
land, who  labored  there  with  much  success.  He,  also,  is  deceased. 
The  congregation  have  now  a  neat  church  and  manse,  quite  in  con- 
trast with  the  old  school  house,  where,  after  riding  ten  miles  on  cold 
winter  mornings,  I  would  find  the  people  gathered  round  the  stove. 
Despairing  of  getting  warm  from  it,  I  used  to  proceed  with  the 
services,  hoping  by  speaking  to  become  warm,  having  first  taken 
the  precaution  to  place  my  hat  against  a  broken  pane  of  the  win- 
dow at  my  back.  Yet  in  that  wretched  cabin  I  had  precious  hours, 
as  I  told  the  old,  old,  story,  or  administered  the  Sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  or  engaged  in  the  sweet  old  psalms  that  are  so  rich 
in  precious  memories  to  the  children  of  the  covenanters,  that  lead 
one  back  to  the  days  of  Oargill  and  Cameron,  and  to  the  triumphs 
of  truth  and  freedom  in  that  noble  land  where  God's  testimony  has 
never  wanted  a  confessor  since  their  witness  for  Jesus. 


5S6  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VERONA. 

ADDITIONS  BY  J.  T.  HAWES. 

My  father  and  mother  and  three  children  moved  into 
the  town  of  Verona  on  the  7th  clay  of  March,  1843.  It 
was  a  very  cold  day,  with  deep  snow,  which  lay  on  the 
ground  until  April,  when  men  went  to  the  town  meeting 
in  sleighs.  It  was  a  remarkably  long  and  hard  winter, 
and  many  cattle  starved  to  death.  I  well  remember  in- 
stances of  men  coming  fifteen  miles  to  get  a  load  of 
straw,  when  we  would  give  them  the  load  and  keep 
them  over  night.  We  had  moved  on  to  Mr.  Samuel 
Taylor's  farm,  so  had  plenty  of  feed.  At  this  time 
there  was  only  one  other  family  in  the  town,  Peter  Mar- 
tin's, one  mile  from  us.  The  next  nearest  was  Joseph 
Vroman,  five  miles  east,  Ed.  Campbell  seven  miles 
north,  and  McFadden,  seven  miles  south.  We  living  on 
the  road  from  Janesville  to  Mineral  Point,  and  as  it  was 
the  only  house  for  a  long  distance  each  way,  having  a 
good  barn,  something  very  scarce  in  those  days,  it  was 
a  regular  stopping  place  for  all  travelers.  Among 
the  notables  who  used  to  frequent  our  house  was  Judge 
Irvin,  lions.  Moses  M.  and  Marshal  M.  Stroug,  Ebenezer 
Brigham,  of  Blue  Mounds,  George  Delaplaine,  etc.  J.  Gr. 
Knapp  and  E.  M.  Williamson,  of  Madison,  used  to  make 
it  their  home  while  acting  as  surveyors  in  that  part  of 
the  county.  Judge  Irvin  was  always  accompanied  by 
his  famous  horse  Pedro,  and  dog  York.  My  father 
one  winter  boarded  old  Pedro  for  the  judge.  If  my 
memory  serves  me  right,  the  first  child  born  in  the  town 
was  Ebenezer  Collins.  He  was  born  in  the  evening. 
My  mother  was  present,  and  earl}'  the  next  morning  she 
was  called  to  attend  the  birth  of  Olive  Wheeler,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  A.  Wheeler,  who  lived  at  the  Badger 
Mills. 

The  first  religious  services  in  the  town  were  held  at  our 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VERONA.  587 

house,,  by  the  Rev.  Salmon  Stebbins.  He  was  followed 
soon  after  by  a  Methodist  missionary  by  the  name  of 
Bennett,  who  afterwards  took  up  the  less  honorable 
calling  of  office  seeking.  About  this  time  we  had  occa- 
sional preaching  by  the  Rev.  Matthew  Fox,  of  Fitch- 
burg,  a  Presbyterian  minister;  also  by  his  father,  who 
was  a  Methodist  preacher.  He  was  known  all  over  the 
country  as  Father  Fox,  or,  as  he  sometimes  styled  him- 
self in  his  jocular  way,  "Ould  Daddy  Fox." 

In  the  summer  of  1845  the  settlers  built  a  log  school 
house  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  22,  but  when 
the}*  had  got  the  body  up,  they  decided  it  was  not 
located  in  the  proper  place,  and  so  sold  it  to  my  father, 
who  took  it  down  and  moved  it  on  his  farm,  on  section 
13,  which  he  was  just  beginning  to  open.  The  next 
year  they  erected  a  log  school  house  on  the  west  edge  of 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Dane  county  poor  farm. 
The  first  school  was  taught  by  Amy  Thornton,  in  the 
winter  of  1816-7,  and  I  was  one  of  her  scholars.  It  was 
the  custom  in  those  days  for  the  teacher  to  board  around, 
and  the  big  boys  to  take  turns  in  building  the  fires. 
My  turn  came  every  Monday  morning,  and  I  remember 
gettiug  a  frozen  ear  on  one  of  those  occasions.  The  first 
summer  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Noyes,  and  the  sec- 
ond winter  term  by  Dr.  Waterbury.  He  being  the  only 
physician  in  that  part  of  the  country,  was  frequently 
called  away  on  professional  duties,  and  at  such  times  he 
placed  the  school  in  charge  of  some  one  of  the  big  boys, 
quite  a  number  of  whom  were  men  grown.  One  of  the 
number,  an  Englishman  by  the  name  of  Baker,  who 
was  sometimes  called  upon  to  preside,  caused  a  good  deal 
of  merriment  one  day  by  telling  some  one  in  a  class  of 
spelling,  who  had  left  out  the  letter  n  in  a  word,  that 
"there  was  a  hen  in  there  somewheres." 

In  1843  my  father  was  elected  the  first  justice  of  the 


5SS  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS VERMONT. 

peace  in  the  town,  and  my  brother,  Harvey  L.  Hawes, 
the  first  constable.  The  same  year  my  father  was  elect- 
ed a  supervisor  of  the  town.  Among  his  duties  were  the 
laying  out  and  repairing  of  roads.  This  office  he  held 
for  many  years.  In  1846  we  moved  on  our  own  farm, 
and  entertained  many  travelers  in  our  little  log  house. 
A  sign  over  our  door  with  the  word  BEER  in  large  let- 
ters, caused  considerable  attraction,  as  it  was,  for  many 
miles  around,  the  only  thing  of  the  kind  outside  of 
Madison.  As  the  town  has  filled  up  fast  with  settlers,  it 
will  be  difficult  to  follow  its  history  further. 


VERMONT. 


The  town  of  Vermont  lies  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county  between  the  towns  of  Black  Earth  and  Blue 
Mounds,  and  known  as  town  7  north,  of  range  6  east. 

The  town  is  well  watered  by  Black  Earth  and  Blue 
Mounds  creeks,  with  their  tributaries.  The  surface  is 
very  uneven,  and  along  all  the  streams  are  bluffs  or 
ridges;  indeed,  the  face  of  the  country  is  rough  and  hilly, 
yet  there  is  very  much  desirable  land  suitable  for  all  ag- 
ricultural purposes.  The  land  is  covered  with  oak  open- 
ings and  no  prairie.     There  are  no  villages  in  the  town. 

The  town  of  Vermont  was  named  by  one  of  the  set- 
tlers after  his  native  state.  The  first  settler  was  a  Ger- 
man, named  Joshua  Harmony,  who  located  here  in  1846. 
I.  C.  Steele,  who  located  on  section  7,  and  S.  Batty,  on 
section  6,  were  among  the  early  settlers.  The  town  was 
organized  in  1855.  The  first  officers  were  Whalen  Has- 
brook,  Isaac  C.  Steele  and  Jno.  Caldwell;  Aaron  Dana, 
clerk.  The  first  sermon  was  preached  in  1819,  by  H. 
Mainard,  of  the  Methodist  church.  The  first  school  dis- 
trict was  organized  in  1850;  A.  Campbell  first  teacher. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MIDDLETON.  5S9 


MEDDLETOK 

BY  A.  B.  PARMENTER,  Esq. 

This  township  is  situated  near  the  center  of  Dane 
county,  adjoining  the  township  of  Madison  on  the  west, 
and  is  known  in  the  government  survey  as  township  7 
north,  of  range  8  east.  It  is  watered  in  the  northeast 
part  by  Pheasant  Branch  creek,  which  flows  easterly 
through  the  village  of  the  same  name  into  Lake  Mendo- 
ta.  It  is  also  watered  in  the  northwest  portion  by  Black 
Earth  creek,  where  on  sections  eight  and  nine  there  is  a 
wide  expansion  known  as  Mud  Lake,  and  adjoining  which 
are  large  and  now  very  valuable  marsh  land,  that  affords 
excellent  yields  of  hay.  This  creek  rises  in  what  was 
formerly  known  as  the  big  marsh,  which  contains  a  rich 
and  extensive  deposit  of  peat.  These  peat  beds  have 
been  tested  and  found  to  be  of  a  pure  vegetable  deposit, 
and  at  no  distant  day,  will  be  utilized  as  fuel. 

In  the  year  1838,  the  Hon.  Thomas  T.  Whittlesey, 
from  Connecticut,  became  the  purchaser  from  the  gov- 
ernment of  a  large  tract  of  land  at  the  head  of  Lake 
Mendota,  where  he  laid  out  the  village  of  Pheasant 
Branch,  and  erected  a  steam  saw  mill  in  the  year  1849, 
which  at  that  early  day  furnished  large  quantities  of 
hard  lumber,  which  was  used  for  building  purposes  in 
Madison  as  well  as  at  the  Branch  and  surrounding  coun- 
try, until  the  completion  of  the  railroad,  when  a  more 
desirable  article  could  be  obtained. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  diversified  by  hills  and 
valleys,  prairie  and  oak  openings;  a  little  of  it  broken 
with  limestone  ridges.  The  land  altogether  is  rich  and 
productive,  and  is  under  excellent  cultivation. 

There  are  three  villages  in  this  town —  East  Middle- 


590  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS JIIDDLETON. 

ton,  Pheasant  Branch  and  Middleton  Station.  The  C, 
M.  &  St.  P.  R.  R.  runs  through  the  latter  village,  enter- 
ing on  section  13,  in  the  east,  and  passing  out  on  section 
7,  in  a  western  direction.  East  Middleton  has  one 
store  and  a  post  office,  and  two  organized  churches. 
The  cemetery  is  also  in  this  village.  Pheasant  Branch 
at  one  time  bid  fair  to  exceed  Middleton  Station,  if  the 
railroad  had  only  diverted  its  course  and  passed  through 
the  former  instead  of  the  latter.  A  good  grist  mill  was 
built  in  Pheasant  Branch  by  Wheeler  &  Gault  in  the 
years  1853-4,  and  was  in  successful  operation  fof  many 
years.  Before  railroad  communication,  this  was  the  cen- 
tral mart  for  a  large  circle  of  trade.  The  village  still 
continues  to  be  a  place  of  considerable  trade. 

The  town  has  a  population  of  over  1,700,  and  the  vil- 
lage of  Middleton  Station  about  300.  There  are  four 
post-offices  in  the  town,  viz.:  Pheasant  Branch,  East 
Middleton,West  Middleton  and  Middleton  Station.  The 
latter  village  has  two  church  edifices,  which  are  oc- 
cupied by  five  religious  denominations;  two  organized 
temperance  societies,  the  Good  Templars  and  Mendotas; 
six  secret  societies,  six  saloons,  two  doctors,  but  no  lawyer. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  amount  of  business  done  in  Mid- 
dleton, it  is  recorded  that  for  two  successive  months 
there  was  shipped  every  day  from  the  station  a  full  train 
of  freight  cars  loaded  with  grain,  while  there  were  taken 
in  at  the  several  warehouses,  and  shipped  in  one  day, 
fifty-two  car  loads.  The  same  fall  there  were  shipped  to 
Milwaukee  10,070  bushels  of  wheat,  which,  from  the  sta- 
tistics of  that  year,  showed  that  it  was  more  than  Mad- 
ison, or  any  other  station  in  the  state,  or  even  in  five 
states,  except  Milwaukee  and  Prairie  du  Chien. 

The  town  received  its  name  from  Harry  Barnes,  after 
a  place  in  Vermont.  It  was  organized  in  1817,  and  at 
its  meeting  in  April,  1818,  elected  the  following  officers: 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MIDDLETON.  591 

Thomas  Whittlesey,  chairman,  Orson  Cook,  Linus  M. 
Palmer,  supervisors;  F.  J.  Starr,  town  clerk;  Andrew 
Starr,  assessor;  John  B.  Colton,  collector;  La  Fayette 
Cleveland,  George  Taylor,  constables;  Hawley  Cook, 
Andrew  Starr,  John  B.  Colton,  school  commissioners; 
Benj.  Cleveland,  Geo.  Taylor,  Enoch  Noyes,  road  com- 
missioners; Benj.  Cleveland,  Sen.,  treasurer;  Benj. 
Cleveland,  Jr.,  Orson  Cook,  Linus  M.  Palmer,  justices 
of  the  peace;  Orson  Cook,  sealer  of  weights  and  measures; 
Thomas  T.  Whittlesey,  James D.  Sanford,  Linus  M.  Pal- 
mer,  fence  viewers.     They  polled  nearly  twenty  votes. 

The  following  firms  are  engaged  in  the  purchase  of 
cattle  and  hogs,  and  have  convenient  yards  and  build- 
ings erected  for  successfully  carrying  on  their  business: 
Messrs.  Dufrenne,  Lyle  &  Richardson;  Messrs.  Richard 
Green  &  Daniel  Vernon;  Mr.  Fritz  Elver.  , 

Mr.  Richard  Green  Jias  a  large  elevator,  run  by  steam, 
and  does  an  extensive  business  in  the  buying  of  grain. 
Dufrenne  &  Lyle  conduct  a  general  merchandise  store, 
with  a  large  and  increasing  trade.  Drs.  A.  A.  Rowley 
and  S.  C.  Coolridge  have  well  selected  stocks  of  drugs. 

The  Washington  Hotel  is  kept  by  Daniel  Maul;  Amer- 
ican House,  by  Gerhard  Aussem;  Mendota  House,  by 
Wm.  Hoffman;  blacksmith  and  wagon  shops,  by  John 
Prien,  Herman  Sass,  H.  Gerds,  and  G.  H.  Wolf;  fur- 
niture shop,  by  Geo.  Schneider;  undertaker,  L.  Good- 
man. There  is  also  a  large  lumber  business  carried  on 
b}*  Green  &  Kingsley,  and  a  planing  mill  by  A.  B.  King- 
sley.  House  builders,  H.  P.  Rider,  Thomas  Fleming 
and  John  Sander;  masons,  E.  Page,  John  Eventual  and 
John  Eggars;  boot  and  shoe  man facturers,  C.  Lammert, 
F.  Plath;  gardener  and  fruit  grower,  Henry  Schuster; 
bee  and  honey  dealer,  John  Elver.  This  business  is  be- 
coming quite  general  throughout  the  town. 


592  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIE. 


MAZOMANIE. 

BY  HENRY  HOWARTH  AND  HENRY  Z,  MOULTON. 

This  township,  located  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
county,  was  formerly  a  part  of  the  town  of  Black  Earth, 
and  comprises  the  north  half  of  township  8  north,  of 
range  6  east,  and  fractional  part  of  town  9,  range  6, 
lying  south  and  east  of  the  Wisconsin  river.  The 
northern  portion  of  this  town  bordering  on  the  river, 
was  at  one  time  low  and  marshy;  but  now,  extensive 
tracts  have  been  drained  and  brought  under  cultivation, 
and  in  time,  will  no  doubt  become  very  valuable  and  im- 
portant lands.  Other  portions  consist  of  prairie  and 
oak  openings,  with  a  rich  and  productive  soil,  watered 
by  the  Black  Earth  creek  and  its  tributaries,  and  is  un- 
der excellent  cultivation,  Avhile  portions  in  the  eastern 
and  southern  parts  of  the  town  are  bluffy  and  much  less 
valuable. 

This  place  may  be  said  to  be  entitled  to  the  distinction 
of  having  been  "discovered,1'  as  the  early  explorers 
passed  down  the  Wisconsin  over  two  hundred  years 
since,  and  viewed  the  lands  of  which  the  town  is  com- 
posed, with  its  extensive  marshes  bordering  upon  the 
river,  and  its  forests  and  bluffs  in  the  background;  the 
first  authentic  account  of  which  is  that  of  Father  James 
Marquette,  a  Jesuit  missionary,  who,  in  company  with 
Joliet  and  five  other  Frenchmen,  passed  clown  the  river 
in  June,  1673,  on  their  celebrated  voyage  of  discovery  to 
the  Mississippi.  At  this  time,  Wisconsin,  then  unknown 
as  a  separate  political  division,  was  under  the  govern- 
ment of  France,  and  so  remained  until  1759,  when  it 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  British.     During  the  war 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS HAZOMANIE.  593 

of  the  Revolution  (in  1780),  a  force  of  Canadians  and 
Indians  passed  down  the  river  to  secure  a  quantity  of 
furs,  deposited  by  Indian  traders  at  Prairie  du  Chien, 
from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  In  the 
"  war  of  1812,"  another  force  of  about  five  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Win,  McKay,  of 
the  British  army,  consisting  of  Regulars,  Canadians  and 
Indians,  passed  down  the  river  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
ducing the  fort  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  after  a  desper- 
ate resistance  on  the  part  of  the  American  troops  sta- 
tioned there,  the  fort  was  compelled  to  surrender.  This 
was  in  1811. 

In  the  Black  Hawk  war,  Mazomanie  was  the  theater 
of  one  of  the  most  decisive  battles  of  the  campaign, 
known  as  the  "  Battle  of  Wisconsin  Heights."  The  In- 
dians having  left  the  Four  Lakes,  retreated  towards  the 
Wisconsin,  and  the  troops  under  Gen.  Henry  and  Cols. 
Dodge  and  Ewing,  numbering  about  six  hundred  men, 
having  struck  their  trail,  pursued  them,  until  at  five 
o'clock  p.  m.  on  the  21st  day  of  July,  1832,  they  over- 
took them  in  a  ravine,  about  three  miles  south  of  the 
present  site  of  Sauk  city.  The  battle  was  commenced 
by  the  Indians  trying  to  gain  possession  of  the  bluffs  or 
heights  (located  on  section  21  in  this  township)  for  a 
better  position,  but  were  defeated  in  their  designs,  and 
driven  with  great  loss  into  the  marshes  and  low  grounds, 
and  during  the  following  night  they  crossed  the  river. 
The  troops  remained  during  the  following  day  scouring 
the  country  for  the  enemy,  and  preparing  litters  for  the 
wounded,  camping  at  night  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
J.  V.  Cairns,  on  section  15.  The  next  morning  the}' 
returned  to  the  fort  at  Blue  Mounds. 

In  the  year  1813,  the  first  settlement  was  made  in 

this  township,  and  large  quantities  of  government  lands 

were  entered  by  the  "  British  Temperance  Emigration 
38 


594  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIE. 

Society.''  Charles  Wilson,  the  agent  of  this  society, 
accompanied  by  Joshua  Rhodes  and  Alfred  Senier,  were 
the  first  settlers.  They  arrived  at  this  place  on  Christ- 
mas day,  in  1843,  and  for  shelter  and  protection  against 
the  inclemencies  of  this  season  of  the  year,  took  posses- 
sion of  an  old,  deserted  Indian  wigwam.  They  were 
soon  after  joined  by  John  Holmes  and  James  Ray. 
They  at  once  commenced  the  erection  of  log  houses  for 
the  accommodation  of  emigrants  that  were  expected  the 
following  season,  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Wilson, 
upon  whom  devolved  the  duty  of  purchasing  and  locat- 
ing the  lands  of  the  society,  dividing  them  into  farms  of 
the  proper  size,  and  making  such  improvements  as  its 
rules  required. 

In  the  spring  of  1844,  they  commenced  breaking  up 
the  soil  and  putting  in  crops;  five  acres  to  each  farm  of 
eighty  acres  was  to  be  prepared  in  this  manner,  and  a 
log  house  erected  thereon  14  by  20  feet,  and  one  and  a 
half  stories  in  height. 

In  the  latter  part  of  June  of  the  same  year,  the  first 
of  the  expected  emigrants  arrived,  among  whom  were 
George  Robbins,  John  and  Wm.  Wrigglesworth,  Fran- 
cis Wilson.  Robert  North,  John  Royston,  Wm.  Thomp- 
son, Christopher  Bennett,  John  Kerr,  Charles  Reeve, 
Robert  Leach,  John  Linley  and  Robert  Liman,  with 
their  families.  Wm.  Summerville  was  also  among  the 
number,  and  was  the  first  to  sicken  and  die,  and  the  first 
to  be  buried  in  the  cemetery,  on  the  grounds  now  occu- 
pied for  that  purpose. 

It  may  no.t  be  uninteresting  to  give  a  short  account 
of  the  society,  under  whose  auspices  these  first  settle- 
ments were  made.  The  "  British  Temperance  Emigra- 
tion Society  "  was  organized  in  Liverpool,  in  1842,  with 
branches  in  many  of  the  important  cities  and  towns  in 
England.     The  officers  of  which  were  Lawrence  Hey- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIE.  595 

worth,  Robert  Gorst,  Charles  Wilson,  Charles  Reeve  and 
George  Cutler.  Each  member  paid  one  shilling  per 
week  per  share,  and  a  share  costing  £25,  when  full  paid, 
entitled  the  holder  to  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  to  be 
selected  by  the  agent  of  the  society.  When  a  sufficient 
amount  of  funds  would  accumulate,  they  were  sent  to 
the  agent  here  for  the  purchase  of  lands  from  the  gov- 
ernment; an  election  would  then  be  had  for  the  purpose 
of  selecting  members  to  emigrate  and  occupy  the  farms. 
Those  that  were  thus  selected  would  immediately  pre- 
pare for  emigration.  But  should  any  member  desire,  he 
could  sell  his  right  to  another  member,  taking  his 
chances  at  the  next  election.  Each  member,  upon  his 
arrival,  would  be  conducted  to  the  farm  selected  for  him 
and  which  would  be  conveyed  to  him  in  legal  form  upon 
the  full  payment  of  his  share.  The  lands  of  the  society 
extended  from  Mill  Creek,  in  Iowa  county,  through 
Mazomanie,  Berry,  Springfield  and  Westport,  and  about 
seventy  families  settled  in  the  vicinity  under  its  auspices. 
After  a  year  or  two,  however,  there  began  to  be  com- 
plaints, and  a  great  deal  of  discontent  was  manifested 
among  its  members;  so  much  so,  that  soon  after,  the 
society  was  entirely  broken  up. 

The  first  marriage  that  occurred  among  the  settlers 
was  that  of  Robert  Leach  to  Miss  Emma  Reeve,  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  Reeve,  Esq.  They  were  married  on  the 
25th  day  of  September,  18-14,  by  Wm.  Welch,  Esq.,  then 
a  magistrate  residing  in  Madison.  Melville  Wriggles- 
worth  was  the  first  male  child  born  in  the  settlement; 
this  event  occurring  in  the  fall  of  184-1.  He  was  the 
son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Wriggles  worth,  and  lived  to 
reach  manhood,  but  his  health,  always  feeble,  gave  out, 
and  he  died  some  years  since.  The  first  physician  of 
the  settlement  was  W.  B.  Bishop,  who  came  from  Liver- 
pool in  1816,  where  he  had  practiced  medicine  for  forty 


596  DAJSTE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  MAZOMAJSTIE. 

years.  He  was  not  strictly  a  resident  of  the  township, 
hut  lived  a  few  rods  across  the  line  in  Iowa  county. 
Charles  Wilson,  who  came  in  1844,  Avas  the  first  lawyer, 
and  William  Powell,  a  few  years  after,  commenced 
the  practice  of  law.  His  sign  may  now  he  seen  on  the 
little  office  adjoining  his  residence  on  Hudson  street, 
although  his  health  will  not  permit  of  active  work  in 
his  profession. 

The  first  school  house,  a  log  building,  was  built  in 
1849,  on  the  "school  section;1'  these  lands  were  soon 
after  sold,  but  the  owner  would  not  sell  any  portion  for 
the  school  house  to  remain  upon,  nor  would  he  allow  it 
to  be  removed;  but  on  one  pleasant,  moonlight  night,  it 
took  a  "  change  of  venue, '"  and  stood  next  morning  on 
lands  owned  by  Henry"  Howarth,  on  section  15.  The 
first  public  school  was  taught  here  by  Mrs.  Mary  Wil- 
liams, in  the  same  year.  This  school  house  was  also 
used  for  many  years  as  a  place  of  worship.  Services 
were  usually  conducted  by  lay  brethren  of  the  Primitive 
Methodist  church,  residing  in  the  town.  Every  fourth 
Sabbath  they  were  conducted  by  circuit  preachers  from 
Mineral  Point  who,  although  having  to  travel  winter 
and  summer,  over  rough  roads  and  through  all  kinds  of 
weather,  a  distance  of  forty-five  miles,  were  ever  faith- 
ful and  punctual  in  the  discharge  of  their  laborious  du- 
ties. George  Cutler,  then  a  local  preacher,  also  con- 
ducted services  here,  and  in  1850,  organized  a  small 
independent  society,  called  the  United  Methodists,  which 
organization  was  maintained  for  about  ten  years.  Upon 
a  division  of  the  town  into  school  districts,  this  school 
house  became  the  property  of  "  District  No.  2,"  now 
comprising  the  entire  village  and  a  large  portion  of  the 
town,  the  first  officers  of  which  were  Henry  Howarth, 
John  Kerr  and  T.  S.  North.  Further  reference  will  be 
made  to  this  district  in  treating  of  the  growth  and  busi- 
ness statistics  of  the  village. 


DANK    COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIE.  507 

"  School  District  No.  3  "  is  located  in  the  eastern  por- 
tion of  the  town;  has  a  fine  frame  school  house  suffi- 
ciently large  to  accommodate  the  number  of  pupils  in 
attendance.  The  present  officers  are  Thos.  H.  Ward. 
Walter  A.  Johnson  and  Lewis  Blynn. 

There  are  at  the  present  time  three  joint  school  dis- 
tricts, in  addition  to  the  districts  mentioned,  and  the 
entire  amount  now  expended  for  educational  purposes, 
is  about  |3,500. 

In  concluding  this  sketch  of  the  early  pioneers  of  the 
settlement,  it  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  notice  some  of 
the  privations  and  hardships  necessarily  endured  in  their 
efforts  to  make  for  themselves  homes  in  the  distant  wil- 
derness. As  will  be  inferred  from  the  manner  in  which 
they  secured  their  homesteads,  being  by  weekly  install- 
ments of  about  twenty-five  cents,  they  were  generally 
men  of  limited  means,  understood  but  little  of  agricul- 
ture—  having  principally  been  mechanics,  tradesmen 
and  professional  men  in  their  native  land  —  and  in 
opening  up  and  improving  their  farms  the  strictest 
economy  was  required  to  procure  the  necessaries  of  life. 
When  short  of  provisions  it  was  the  usual  custom  to 
borrow  from  each  other  until  such  times  as  the  larder 
could  again  be  replenished.  In  some  instances  resort 
was  had  to  the  coffee  mill  to  grind  "  flour  "  enough  for 
bread.  One  such  mill,  owned  by  Dr.  Wallace,  of  Iowa 
county,  and  brought  by  him  from  "  the  old  country," 
was  kept  running  for  days  together  for  this  purpose. 
In  one  instance  a  settler  by  the  name  of  Joseph  Roger- 
son  "  backed  "  fifty  pounds  of  flour  from  "  Badger  State 
mills "  on  Sugar  river.  Francis  Wilson,  during  the 
summer  of  1814,  accompanied  by  another  settler,  went 
to  the  old  "  Hickox  mill  "  in  Iowa  county  for  flour,  a 
distance  of  eighteen  miles.  They  took  two  yoke  of 
oxen,  and,  after  an  absence  of  four  days,  returned  with 


598  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  MAZOMANIE. 

only  one  hundred  pounds;  this  amount,  when  divided 
among  the  entire  settlers,  furnished  a  very  small  allow- 
ance for  each  family.  Only  by  waiting  for  the  toll  from 
grists  brought  to  the  mill  during  tbeir  stay  were  they 
enabled  to  procure  even  this  small  amount.  For  a  long 
time  this  was  the  nearest  flour  mill,  and  settlers  were 
obliged  to  make  two,  and  sometimes  three,  trips  before 
getting  their  grists.  At  one  time,  while  this  mill  was 
being  repaired,  Mr.  Wrigglesworth  and  Reuben  Royston 
started  in  search  of  some  other  mill,  and  were  gone  over 
a  week  before  they  could  find  one  to  grind  their  wheat. 

The  manner  of  threshing  and  cleaning  wheat  in  those 
days  was  somewhat  primitive;  they  would  clear  off  a 
large  space  of  ground,  put  on  about  four  yoke  of  oxen 
and  tramp  it  out;  the  cleaning  was  performed  by  throw- 
ing the  grain  in  the  air  and  allowing  the  wind  to 
blow  out  the  chaff. 

In  1848,  there  began  to  be  a  surplus  of  wheat,  a  por- 
tion of  which  was  traded  off  for  groceries  and  other 
necessaries.  About  this  time  they  commenced  hauling 
to  Milwaukee.  The  manner  of  making  trips,  to  this 
city  was,  for  three  or  four  farmers  to  start  together,  each 
having  not  less  than  two  pair  of  oxen  —  horses  then  be- 
ing almost  unknown  in  the  settlement  —  they  would 
take  their  supplies  from  home  and,  camping  out  nights, 
would  cook  their  provisions  by  the  heat  of  their  camp 
fires.  Thirty  bushels  was  considered  a  fair  load,  for 
which  they  obtained  from  forty  to  fifty  cents  per  bushel. 
On  their  return  they  would  sometimes  load  up  with  salt 
or  merchandise  for  Madison  and  other  places,  as  they 
could  find  the  opportunity.  The  round  trip  was  usually 
made  in  about  two  weeks.  Many  times,  from  delays 
caused  by  bad  weather  and  roads,  or  some  accident  to 
team  or  wagon,  their  expenses  would  use  up  nearly  the 
entire  proceeds  of  their  wheat. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIJE.  599 

The  settlers  procured  what  few  necessaries  they  re- 
quired or  could  afford,  from  Sauk  City  —  a  town  of 
"one  stores;1'  from  Dover,  in  Iowa  county;  from  Poker- 
ville  (West  Blue  Mounds),  twelve  miles  distant,  or  from 
Madison,  a  distance  of  twenty-three  miles.  When  any 
one  went  to  the  latter  place,  he  would  procure  such 
necessaries  as  were  required  by  his  neighbors,  and 
would  also  get  the  entire  mail  for  the  settlement. 

The  times  were  very  hard  for  several  years  after  the 
first  settlements,  and  very  little  money  was  to  be  had. 
Fifty  cents  per  day  was  considered  a  good  price  for  a 
day's  work;  usually  paid  for  in  flour,  meat  or  other  pro- 
visions. The  usual  price  paid  for  harvest  help  was  one 
bushel  of  wheat  per  day. 

The  early  settlers  had  but  little  dealings  with  the 
Indians,  although  for  many  years  they  were  passing  up 
and  down  the  Wisconsin  for  the  purpose  of  hunting 
and  trapping,  and  occasionally  would  camp  in  the  near 
vicinity.  They  were  always  friendly  and  peaceably  dis- 
posed. In  1851,  a  procession  of  from  six  to  seven  hun- 
dred of  the  following  tribes,  Chippewas,  Pottawattamies, 
Winnebagoes,  Stockbridges  and  Hurons,  passed  along, 
marshaled  by  the  United  States  authorities,  with  a  band 
of  music  and  several  banners  of  the  stars  and  stripes 
floating  to  the  breeze.  They  were  being  conducted  to 
their  several  reservations  west  of  the  Mississippi,  but  be- 
fore their  arrival  at  their  respective  destinations,  it  was 
found  that  at  least  one-half  of  their  numbers  were  miss- 
ing, they  having  dropped  off  in  the  night  time,  prefer- 
ring their  Wisconsin  homes  to  the  comparatively  un- 
known territory  to  which  they  were  being  removed. 

The  town  was  first  called  Gorstville;  this  was  subse- 
quently changed  to  Pleasant  Valley,  then  to  Farmers- 
ville,  and  then  to  Black  Earth.  The  southern  portion, 
being  the  south  half  of  town  eight,  still  retains  this 


600  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  MAZOMANIE. 

name,  but  the  northern  portion  was  set  off  in  1858,  un- 
der the  name  of  Mazomanie,  a  name  given  to  it  by  the 
first  proprietors  of  the  village,  signifying,  in  the  Indian 
language,. '"' The  iron  that  walks,'1  or  "  Walking  iron," 
and  should  be  written  with  one  capital,  not  as  a  com- 
pound word,  as  is  sometimes  done. 

The  first  officers  for  the  new  town  of  Mazomanie  were: 
Supervisors —  John  Greening,  chairman,  James  Craney, 
Philip  Wagner;  town  clerk  —  Wm.  L.  Freeman;  treas- 
urer—  S.  E.  Waterhouse;  assessor  —  James  Hayes; 
town  superintendent — Dr.  E.  D.  Bishop;  justices — John 
Greening,  Barney  Campbell,  John  Huntington,  Thomas 
S.  North;  constables — Joseph  Bennett,  Wm.  Brink. 

The  present  officers  are :  Supervisors  —  Luther  Clark, 
chairman,  Joseph  Bennett,  H.  B.  Catlin;  to/rn  clerk — 
H.  Z.  Moulton;  treasurer  —  B.  R.  Cowdery;  assessor  — 
Ed.  Pratt;  justices  —  George  Cutler,  S.  Moulton,  H. 
Z.  Moulton;  constable  —  John  AVilcox. 

The  population  of  the  township  at  the  present  time 
is  about  eighteen  hundred.  The  value  of  real  and  per- 
sonal property  of  the  town  and  village  for  the  year  1877, 
as  appears  from  the  assessment  roll  of  the  town,  is 
$457,000. 

Village. —  While  the  Milwaukee  and  Mississippi  rail- 
road was  in  process  of  construction  through  our  state, 
and  the  line  was  being  surveyed  through  this  town,  the 
directors  of  the  road  noticed  that  a  fine  location  pre- 
sented itself  for  a  village,  north  and  west  of  the  bluff  on 
section  16.  They  observed  that  by  maintaining  a  proper 
grade  in  building  their  road,  a  fine  water  power  could 
be  developed  by  making  the  grade  serve  the  purpose  of 
confining  the  waters  of  Black  Earth  Creek  upon  one 
side  for  a  distance  of  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  and 
determined  to  take  advantage  of  the  circumstances  thus 
presented,  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a  thriving  village. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS — ■  HAZOMANIE.  601 

According!}',  after  purchasing  a  portion  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  said  section  16,  Messrs.  E.  H.  Brodhead, 
Eliphalet  Cramer,  Anson  Eldred  and  Moses  Scott,  as 
proprietors,  joined  with  Abram  Ogden,  a  previous  owner, 
laid  out  what  is  known  as  the  original  plat  of  the  vil- 
lage. This  was  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1855. 
During  the  same  year,  John  Hudson  and  William  Rob- 
inson platted  a  portion  of  section  9,  under  the  respective 
titles  of  Hudson's,  Robinson's  and  University  additions, 
and,  subsequently,  Henry  Walker  and  Alfred  Senier 
platted  portions  of  sections  8  and  16,  under  the  respect- 
ive names  of  Walker's  and  Senier's  additions.  The 
proprietors  of  Prairie  addition  were  A.  W.  Curtis,  John 
Catlin  and  Edward  Barber. 

During  this  year  the  first  buildings  were  erected,  and 
before  the  close  of  the  season,  quite  a  village  presented 
itself  to  the  gaze  of  those  old  settlers  who  had  toiled  and 
endured  so  much,  and  with  a  near  prospect  of  a  railroad 
upon  which  they  could  send  away  their  surplus  produce, 
and  through  its  influence,  could  once  more  enjoy  the 
benefits  of  social  intercourse  with  the  outside  world,  be- 
gan to  feel  that  they  were  indeed ' u  about  to  receive 
that  for  which  they  had  so  long  wrought." 

The  first  arrivals  were  D.  W.  Bronson  and  family, 
David  and  W.  H.  Whitney.  Mr.  Bronson  and  the 
Whitne3;s  immediately  commenced  work  on  the  first 
store  building  erected  in  the  village,  the  entire  party 
living  in  the  meantime  in  a  shanty  situated  in  the  rear 
of  the  site  upon  which  the  "  Carlisle  House "  now 
stands. 

The  first  store  was  opened  by  S.  Holbrook  and  John 
Martin,  followed  soon  after  by  that  of  S.  E.  Water- 
house  and  D.  W.  Bronson.  George  Butler  built  and 
opened  the  first  hotel  under  the  name  of  the  "  American 
House/'     This  was  the  first  frame  building  erected  in 


002  DANE   COUNTY   TOWNS  —  MAZOMANIE. 

the  village.  It  was  rebuilt  and  improved  in  1869,  and 
the  name  changed  to  the  "  Carlisle  House." 

Soon  after,  the  ".Mazomanie  Hotel,'1  now  known  as 
the  "  Freeman  House,"  was  built  by  H.  A.  Cowdery.  The 
first  blacksmith  shop  was  established  by  John  and 
Joseph  Wilson. 

Among  those  that  came  here  in  1855,  not  already 
mentioned,  were  Saulsbury  Bros.,  Mr.  Parsons,  John 
Robinson,  C.  D.  Haven,  Gr.  T.  Whitney,  Allen  and 
Angus  Macdonald,  W.  U.  Hover,  L.  D.  Brooks,  A.  S. 
Sanborn,  William  Allen,  and  S.  H.  Vedder. 

G.  T.  Whitney  was  the  first  postmaster,  but  the  busi- 
ness of  the  postoffice  was  transacted  by  Messrs.  Bronson 
and  Waterhouse.  He  was  appointed  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  Franklin  Pierce,  and  was  succeeded  by 
William  L.  Freeman.  D.  W.  Bronson,  the  present 
postmaster,  was  appointed  in  1861,  and  has  held  the 
office  ever  since. 

In  June,  1856,  the  railroad  first  reached  this  village, 
and  gave  at  once  a  fresh  impetus  to  its  growth  and 
prosperity.  The  first  passenger  cars  arrived,  and  the 
first  time-table  was  established  on  the  7th  of  that  month, 
and  on  the  10th  there  was  a  rousing  "  Railroad  Cele- 
bration "  in  honor  of  the  event,  said  to  be  among  the 
greatest  gatherings  ever  had  in  Mazomanie.  People 
were  here  from  the  surrounding  country  for  a  great  dis- 
tance, and  it  was  no  doubt  a  day  of  general  rejoicing. 

The  depot,  a  very  fine  structure,  was  built  the  preced- 
ing year.  This  building,  however,  was  destroyed  by 
fire  and  rebuilt  in  1857.  A  large  and  commodious  eat- 
ing house  was  built  adjoining  the  depot,  and  for  several 
years,  trains  stopped  for  refreshments  at  Mazomanie  in 
place  of  Madison.  In  1862,  the  building  was  taken 
down  and  removed,  thus  becoming  one  of  the  institu- 
tions of  the  past. 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  MAZOMANIE.  603 

John  B.  Stickney  was  the  first  depot  agent,  and  is 
now  the  oldest  acting  station  agent  in  the  state  of  Wis- 
consin. He  came  on  the  advent  of  the  cars,  and  has 
ever  since  retained  the  position,  which  fact  is  sufficient 
evidence  that  he  has  the  confidence,  not  only  of  the 
managers  of  the  road,  but  of  the  community  of  which 
he  has  so  long  been  a  prominent  and  active  member. 

Mr.  Hutchins  was  the  first  wheat-buyer',  but  the  first 
grain  warehouse  was  erected  by  L.  A.  Lincoln  in  1856. 

Manufacturing  Interests.  —  In  1857,  Lynch  & 
Walker,  of  Milwaukee,  became  the  owners  of  the  water 
power  before  referred  to,  and  erected  thereon  a  large  and 
commodious  flouring  mill.  A  few  years  after  this  the 
mill  was  purchased  by  William  Thompson,  who  became 
a  permanent  resident  of  the  place,  and  for  many  years 
transacted  a  large  and  profitable  milling  business,  giv- 
ing employment  to  a  great  number  of  operatives.  Mr. 
T.  spent  large  sums  of  money  in  improvements  on  the 
mill.  He  was  an  active  business  man  and  a  good  citi- 
zen; generous,  open  hearted,  and  took  great  interest  in 
all  public  improvements.  The  mill  is  now  operated  by 
Messrs.  E.  Sanderson  &  Co.,  of  Milwaukee  —  under  the 
charge  of  J.  T.  Vought  —  who  have  made  extensive  al- 
terations and  improvements-,  involving  an  outlay  of 
about  $15,000.  Considering  the  strength  and  perma- 
nency of  its  water  power,  its  close  proximity  to  the  rail- 
road, its  capacity  for  work  and  thorough  state  of  repair, 
and  its  ready  access  to  the  markets  and  to  the  large 
grain  growing  districts  of  Iowa  and  Minnesota,  it  must 
be  placed  among  the  very  best  flouring  mills  of  the  state. 

The  frame  flouring  mill,  now  standing  on  section  8, 
was  moved  to  its  present  location  in  1861,  by  John  Crop- 
per and  Ch.  L.  Jacobi,  and  was  operated  by  Mr.  Cropper 
until  1876,  when  he  sold  his  interest  to  Robert  Patter- 
son.    This  is  a  much  smaller  mill,  and  is  intended  prin- 


60-1  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS  —  MAZOMANIE. 

cipally  for  custom  work,  although  it  has  the  requisite 
machinery  for  manufacturing  what  is  termed  "  patent " 
flour. 

The  next  important  business  enterprise  established  in 
the  place  was  the  manufacture  of  fanning  mills,  and  out 
of  its  introduction  important  branches  of  industry  have 
been  built  up,  in  giving  employment  to  a  great  number 
of  mechanics,  and  support  to  many  families.  In  1860, 
John  Warren,  Nathaniel  and  Stillman  Moultou,  built  a 
large  three  story  brick  and  stone  building  for  this  pur- 
pose, with  steam  power  and  machinery  for  planing,  match- 
ing, sawing,  etc.  A  large  business  was  established, 
which  steadily  increased  from  year  to  year;  but  on  the 
2d  day  of  May,  1865,  a  great  calamity  befel  them,  in  the 
loss  by  fire  of  their  building  and  entire  stock,  prepared 
during  the  preceding  winter  ready  for  "  setting  up  " 
into  mills.  N.  Moulton  having  withdrawn  in  1863,  the 
loss  fell  upon  the  other  members  of  the  firm,  and  was 
very  severe,  there  being  no  insurance.  A  circumstance 
worthy  of  note  in  this  connection  is  the  fact  that  the 
machine  shop  of  N.  T.  Davies,  situated  on  the  exact  lo- 
cation, was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  lOthday  of  May, 
1877,  exactly  twelve  years  after. 

George  and  N.  T.  Davies,  the  successors  of  J.  War- 
ren &  Co.,  rebuilt  the  premises  and  made  extensive  addi- 
tions and  improvements,  both  in  buildings  and  machine- 
ry, including  the  establishment  of  a  foundry  and  ma- 
chine shop.  N.  T.  Davies,  now  the  sole  proprietor,  is 
doing  a  large  business  in  the  manufacture  of  fanning 
mills,  wagons,  milk  safes  and  other  farm  machinery, 
having  with  commendable  pluck  and  perseverance  re- 
built the  portion  recently  destroyed  by  fire. 

Pritchard  and  Davies  are  also  extensive  manufactur- 
ers of  mills  and  safes. 

Fanning  mills  are  also  manufactured  by  D.  N.  Smith 
and  George  Davies. 


DANE    COrXTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIE.  605 

John  Parman  and  Charles  J.  Trager  are  each  the  own- 
er and  proprietor  of  a  large  establishment  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  wagons  and  carriages;  and  for  strength,  du- 
rability, style  and  finish,  their  work  will  compare  favor- 
ably, if  not  excel,  that  of  any  other  establishments  of 
their  kind  in  the  country.  As  evidence  of  this  fact,  they 
are  receiving  orders  not  only  from  the  city  of  Milwau- 
kee, but  from  places  in  the  northwest  and  southwest 
portions  of  our  state,  as  well  as  from  Iowa  and  Minne- 
sota. 

The  Mazomanie  cheese  factory,  owned  and  operated 
by  Messrs.  Humphrey  &  Sherwin,  ranks  among  the  im- 
portant business  enterprises  of  the  town.  This  factory 
was  built  early  in  1875,  and  under  the  efficient  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  Daniel  Humphrey,  with  Theo.  J.  Elmer  as 
cheese  maker,  has  been  very  successful,  thus  proving  the 
wisdom  of  the  merchants  and  business  men  who  con- 
tributed so  liberally  to  its  establishment. 

John  Darlington  is  the  manufacturer  and  patentee  of 
a  washing  machine  called  the  "  Darlington  Washer," 
which  is  said  to  be  an  excellent  machine. 

Churches.  —  The  First  Congregational  Society  was 
organized  at  the  log  school  house  before  mentioned,  in 
1853,  by  Rev.  David  M.  Jones,  of  Arena.  Through  his 
labors  a  church  was  erected  in  1855,  of  which  he  was  the 
first  pastor.  Subsequently  this  church  building  became 
the  property  of  the  Evangelical  Association,  by  whom 
it  was  used  until  1871,  when  it  became  private  property. 
In  1871  the  society  built  a  very  fine  frame  church  on 
Hudson  street,  under  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  M.  M.  Mar- 
tin, who  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  First  Baptist  Society  of  Mazomanie  and  Black 
Earth  was  organized  April  11,  1857,  with  Rev.  Moses 
Rowley  its  first  pastor.  For  many  years  they  occupied 
the  seminary.     In  1865,  the  society  was  reorganized  as 


606  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS  —  MAZOMA.NIE. 

the  First  Baptist  Society  of  Mazomanie.  In  1866,  un- 
der the  labors  of  Rev.  Moses  Pickett,  they  built  a 
large  frame  church  on  Hudson  street,  and  services 
are  now  conducted  therein  by  Rev.  Joseph  Bowman,  of 
Lodi. 

In  1847,  the  Primitive  Methodist  Society  was  organ- 
ized by  Rev.  George  Stevens,  a  local  preacher,  and  ser- 
vices held  in  private  dwelling-houses.  In  1850,  the 
society  was  reorganized  by  Rev.  James  Alderson,  and 
attached  to  the  Mineral  Point  circuit,  and  in  1857,  they 
built  a  small  frame  church.  Although  this  society  is 
small,  they  have  never  failed  in  keeping  up  regular  ser- 
vices. The  present  year  (1877)  they  have  erected  a  fine 
parsonage  near  the  church.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev. 
John  Ralph. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  was  organized  No- 
vember 7,  1856,  with  a  membership  of  eighteen.  Rev. 
Robert  Rowbotham  was  the  first  regular  pastor.  The 
church  now  owned  by  this  society  —  the  largest  and 
most  commodious  church  building  in  the  village  —  was 
erected  under  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Searles.  The 
corner-stone  was  laid  by  Gen.  Fallows,  with  due  form- 
ality, in  June,  1885,  and  in  September,  1867,  it  was  de- 
dicated. Bishop  Simpson  preached  the  dedicatory  ser- 
mon; Dr.  Raymond,  of  Evanston  College,  assisted  in  the 
services.     The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  E.  T.  Briggs. 

■St.  Luke's  Mission  (Episcopal)  was  organized  Jan- 
uary 8,  1868,  and  Rev.  J.  B.  Pradt  called  as  missionary. 
For  about  two  years,  services  were  held  in  the  Town 
Hall.  In  December,  1869,  they  held  their  first  service 
in  St.  Luke's  Church,  a  fine  brick  edifice  erected  prin- 
cipally through  the  liberality  of  William  Thompson  and 
Richard  Black.  The  present  missionary  in  charge  is 
Rev.  Henry  M.  Green. 

The  first  regular  preacher  of  the  Evangelical  Associa- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOHANTE.  607 

t/on,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  was  Rev.  Henry  Ra- 
gartz,  who  preached  here  in  1853. 

Services  were  usually  held  at  the  residence  of  differ- 
ent members,  until  1864,  when  they  purchased  the 
church  building  formerly  owned  by  the  Congregational 
Society.  This  they  occupied  until  1874,  when  they 
found,  from  the  growth  of  the  society,  that  they  needed 
more  room.  They  built  a  very  pretty  and  substanial 
stone  church  on  Hudson  Street,  which  was  dedicated 
on  the  29th  of  October  of  the  same  year,  by  Bishop 
Jacob  Escher.      Rev.  Peter  Held  is  the  present  pastor. 

Catholic. — In  1856,  this  church  erected  a  frame  edifice 
of  which  Father  Stroker  was  the  first  regular  priest.  In 
the  year  1863,  finding  their  church  building  too  small 
for  the  congregation,  a  new  building  was  erected  under 
the  labors  of  Father  McGinty.  They  now  have  a  fine 
frame  edifice,  with  a  dwelling  near  for  the  residence  of 
the  priest.     Father  Mazeaud  is  the  present  priest. 

Secret  Societies.  —  A  dispensation  was  granted  De- 
cember 5,  1857,  for  the  organization  of  a  Masonic  lodge, 
and  on  the  9th  day  of  June  of  the  following  year,  a 
charter  was  granted  to  Crescent  Lodge,  No.  97,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.;  with  Alden  S.  Sanborn,  its  first  master,  and 
John  B.  Stickney,  its  first  secretary.  The  membership 
of  this  lodge  has  increased  gradually  until  it  now  num- 
bers sixty-eight  members.  Illustrative  of  changes  con- 
stantly going  on  in  society  is  the  fact  that  upwards  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  names  have  been  enrolled  as  mem- 
bers of  this  Lodge  since  its  organization. 

The  most  serious  drawback  that  this  society  has  en- 
countered was,  in  the  loss  of  their  lodge-room  and  en- 
tire furniture  and  records,  destroyed  by  fire,  May  2, 
1865.  They  had  bought  and  paid  for  the  third  story 
of  the  building  erected  by  J.  Warren  &  Co.  This  gave 
them  a  large  and  commodious  hall,  and  was  well  fur- 


COS  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIE. 

nislied.  Tlie  last  payment  on  the  hall  was  made  but  a 
few  weeks  previous  to  the  fire.  They  now  hold  their 
meetings  in  the  third  storv  of  Turck's  block.  B.  R.  Cow- 
deryis  the  present  master,  and  H.  Z.  Moultoii,  secretary. 

Good  Templars.  —  Mazomanie  Lodge,  No.  65,  I.  0.  Gr. 
T.  (afterwards  changed  to  No.  14),  was  instituted  Jan- 
uary 15,  1858,  with  William  Robinson,  W.  C.  T.,  and 
John  Howarth,  W.  R.  S.  This  lodge  has  met  with 
varying  success  since  its  organization.  Like  all  other 
institutions  having  for  their  object  the  advancement  of 
moral  and  social  reform,  it  has  its  seasons  of  depression 
as  well  as  ot  prosperity ;  but  there  is  little  question  that 
this  order,  aside  from  its  direct  effect  upon  individuals, 
has  exerted  a  great  influence  in  building  up  a  health}' 
temperance  sentiment  in  the  community.  The  mem- 
bership of  this  lodge  is  about  one  hundred  and  thirty. 
Samuel  Murrish  is  its  present  W.  C.  T.,  and  T.  F.  Stair 
its  present  W.  R.  S.  They  have  a  hall  in  Turck's 
block,  and  meet  on  Friday  evening  of  each  week. 

Mendotas.  —  Montezuma  Council,  No.  8,  I.  0.  M.,  was 
organized  February  22,  1876.  This  is  a  social  order, 
having  temperance  as  one  of  its  prominent  objects. 
The  membership  is  seventy-eight.  The  present  officers 
are  L.  C.  Oulmann,  Sachem,  and  W.  Y.  Ridell,  Writer 
They  meet  in  Good  Templar's  hall  every  Monday  eve 
ning. 

The  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  No.  318,  was  organized 
January  10,  1871,  and  meet  on  Saturday  evenings  in 
u  Blitz"  hall.  Their  membership  is  forty-six.  Present 
officers  are  Henry  Powell,  Master,  and  0.  B.  Haseltine, 
Secretary. 

Public  Schools.  —  Mazomanie  has  for  many  years 
been  justly  celebrated  for  the  efficiency  of  her  public 
school,  which  has  been  the  principal  means  of  attract- 
ing many  families  to  our  place  for  the  educational  ad- 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIE.  609 

vantages  it  offered.  This  is  mainly  attributable  to  the 
liberality  of  its  citizens  in  providing  suitable  buildings, 
and  in  the  employment  of  teachers  of  undoubted  capa- 
bilities as  principals,  among  whom  may  be  mentioned 
Lyman  Hutchinson,  N.  E.  Goldthwaite,  W.  A.  De  La 
Matyr,  M.  E.  Wadsworth,  L.  D.  Harvey  and  Miss  Inez 
C.  Childs,  all  of  whom  have  materially  contributed  to  its 
success.  The  present  principal  is  Charles  F.  Harding, 
of  Springfield  in  this  county. 

In  1857,  a  frame  school  house  was  built  to  take  the 
place  of  the  log  house  before  referred  to,  of  ample  size, 
as  was  supposed,  to  accommodate  the  increase  of  pupils 
consequent  upon  the  growth  of  the  village;  but  it  was 
bandy  finished,  before  a  portion  had  to  be  sent  to  the 
seminary  building.  In  1861,  was  commenced  the  erec- 
tion of  a  brick  edifice,  50  by  50  feet,  two  stories  in  height. 
This  was  occupied  the  following  year,  when  the  school 
was  first  organized  under  the. graded  system.  In  1868, 
an  addition  was  built,  30  by  50  feet,  of  the  same  height, 
making  a  building  50  by  80  feet,  which  was  arranged  for 
five  departments.  In  1876,  however,  it  was  again  found 
necessary  to  occupy  the  former  building,  now  known  as 
the  Town  Hall,  and  to  establish  a  primary  school  near 
the  Wisconsin  river. 

In  1876,  a  free  high  school  was  established  in  the  dis- 
trict, receiving  state  aid  as  provided  by  law.  The  grade, 
however,  was  already  sufficient  to  enable  pupils  to  enter 
the  freshman  class  at  the  State  University  without  fur- 
ther preparation;  as  an  instance,  at  the  last  commence- 
ment, the  following  pupils  passing  direct  from  our 
school,  graduated  from  this  institution,  namely :  Misses 
Alice  Stickney,  Florence  E.  Mitchell,  Hattie  M.  Hover, 
Tillie  Reul,  and  Mr.  W.  A.  Hover. 

The   district  contains  about  five  hundred  and  fifty 
pupils  of  school  age,  and  upwards  of  four  hundred  were 
39 


010  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIE. 

in  attendance  the  past  year.  Number  of  teachers  em- 
ployed, eight;  cost  of  instruction,  about  $3,000  annu- 
ally. Value  of  -school  building  and  site  is  over  §10,000. 
The  site  contains  eight  lots,  and  is  one  of  the  prettiest 
locations  for  the  purpose  to  be  found.  Good  sidewalks 
are  provided  not  only  about  the  building  and  across  the 
grounds,  but  reach  to  nearly  all  portions  of  the  village, 
except  on  the  higher  grounds  where  they  are  not  so 
much  needed. 

The  present  officers  of  the  district  are,  Jonathan 
Jones,  J.  C.  Cowdery  and  H.  Z.  Moulton,  the  latter  hav- 
ing served  in  the  capacity  of  clerk  without  interruption 
since  1862. 

The  business  and  other  interests,  not  previously  men- 
tioned, are  represented  by  J.  C.  Cowdery  &  Son,  bank- 
ers; W.  U.  Hover,  J.  Murrish  &  Sons,  C.  M.  Howe, 
L.  A.  Lincoln,  J.  A.  Schmitz,  Charles  Butz,  W.  W. 
Whalon,  and  S.  V.  Wyckoff  and  Co.,  general  dealers; 
Smith  &  Moulton,  general  hardware;  J.  Jones  and 
Smith  &  Campbell,  druggists;  Whitney  &  Clark,  boots 
and  shoes;  J.  W.  Robson,  books  and  stationery,  fruits 
and  confectionery;  C.  A.  Pierson  and  Hiram  Lyford, 
groceries;  L.  C.  Oulmann,  butter  and  eggs;  George 
Elliott,  furniture  and  paper  hangings;  Fred  Reinow,  fur- 
niture and  coffins:  Fred.  W.  Giese  and  Otto  Giese,  jew- 
elers; D.  W.  Bronson  &  Son  and  Richard  Black,  lumber 
dealers;  L.  A.  Lincoln.  A.  Lange  and  J.  T.  Vaught,  grain 
buyers;  Ed.  Pratt  and  Maj.  A.  B.  Piatt,  agricultural 
implements;  Harrop  &  Cork,  tailors;  Fred.  Heydecke  and 
John  Denu,  harnesses;  C.  E.  Whelan,  blacksmith  and 
wagons;  A.  Preston  &  Sons,  blacksmith  and  cultivators; 
John  Askew,  blacksmith  and  plows;  A.  P.  Peck  and 
Simeon  Jones,  shoemakers;  Woolrich  &  Dame,  meat 
market;  Mrs.  Charles  Peters,  market  and  confectionery; 
Mrs.  John  Schuesler,  photographs;  Mrs.  S.  A.  Berry, 


DANE   COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIE.  611 

Mrs.  E.  H.  Hart,  Mrs.  C.  M.  Howe,  and  Miss  M.  E.  Kerr, 
millinery  and  dress  making;  Edward  Huggins,  restau- 
rant; N.  Kirch,  bakery;  Sutcliffe  Bros.,  cigars;  Tinker 
&  Schlewch,  brewers;  S.  F.  Buck,  barber;  P.  B.  Learnard, 
repairing  watches;  J.  A.  J.  Shower,  undertaker;  Isaac 
Thompson  and  Lawrence  Wolf,  coopers;  J.  F.  Carlisle 
and  H.  G.  Brunleib,  liveries;  T.  T.  Huntington  and 
John  Cammack,  draymen:  Thos.  W.  Wilson,  builder; 
W.  W.  Whitney,  millwright;  L.  W.  Needham,  Robert 
Sutcliffe,  E.  H.  Haseltine,  J.  H.  Richards  and  Ferd. 
Hader,  carpenters;  C.  F.  Moulton,  Adam  Grerner  and  M. 
Morrow,  masons;  Wm.  Finlayson  and  A.  N.  Seymour 
are  the  proprietors  of  the  extensive  nurseries.  The 
medical  fraternity  are  represented  by  Wm.  H.  Grleason, 
T.  F.  Stair,  C.  A.  Lyman  and  T.  S.  North;  dentistry  by 
J.  Cr.  Mawney;  insurance  by  H.  Z.  Moulton. 

The  place  is  supplied  with  excellent  hotels,  all  of 
which  are  well  kept,  and  sufficiently  large  and  roomy 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  traveling  public,  who  may 
feel  assured  of  receiving  the  utmost  attention  from  the 
genial  proprietors.  The  "  Carlisle  House,1'  kept  by 
James  Carlisle,  is  the  largest;  next  in  size  and  preten- 
sions is  the  "  Freeman  House,"  kept  by  Theo.  Freeman, 
while  the  "  Commercial  Hotel "  is  under  the  charge  of 
John  Westhauser,  proprietor.  Mr.  N.  Kirch  has  recent- 
ly erected  large  and  commodious  buildings,  and,  in  con- 
nection with  other  business,  proposes  to  provide  for  the 
entertainment  of  the  traveling  public. 

The  Weekly  Sickle,  a  newspaper  published  by  D.  W. 
Bronson  &  Son,  with  S.  E.  Bronson  as  editor,  is  among 
the  important  enterprises  of  the  place,  and  is  of  great 
value  and  convenience  to  the  citizens  and  business  men. 
The  first  issue  was  dated  March  9,  1874,  and  the  circu- 
lation has  increased  gradually  until  it  now  numbers  five 
hundred  subscribers. 


612  DANE    COUNTY   TOWNS MAZOMANIE. 

The  village  of  Mazomanie  is  what  may  be  termed  a 
"  railroad  town,"  as  it  was  directly  through  its  influence 
that  the  place  was  first  started,  and  through  its  business 
employment  is  given  to  a  great  number  of  persons.  The 
construction  train  of  the  western  division  of  the  railway 
from  Milwauke  to  Prairie  du  Chien  makes  its  headquar- 
ters here.  The  train  is  under  the  charge  of  E.  J.  Whit- 
ney, conductor,  with  Frank  Robinson  as  engineer,  Mr.  R. 
having  held  this  position  since  1865.  This  station  ranks 
the  fifth  on  the  line  (Pra.  du  C.  division)  as  to  amount  of 
business.  There  is.  paid  out  to  its  different  employees 
not  less  than  8'2,000  monthly,  giving  direct  support  to 
about  fifty  families,  and  indirectly  adding  largely  to  the 
general  business  interests  of  the  town. 

The  Fire  Department  of  Mazomanie  is  well  deserving 
of  attention  in  this  sketch.  It  has  been  organized  and 
worked  up  under  exceeding  difficulties,  and  several  3rears 
have  elapsed  since  its  first  conception,  but  through  the 
persistent  efforts  of  a  few  of  her  citizens  — among  whom 
may  with  propriety  be  mentioned  the  names  of  C.  J. 
Trager,  T.  W.  Wilson  and  R.  Black  —  and  the  liberali- 
ty of  the  business  men  of  the  place,  it  has  now  a  well 
organized  fire  company,  with  an  "  A  1  "  hand  power  en- 
gine, hose  cart  and  hook  and  ladder  outfit,  including 
truck,  ladders,  buckets,  etc.,  costing  upwards  of  twelve 
hundred  dollars.  The  present  officers  are,  C.  J.  Trager, 
foreman;  J.  A.  J.  Shower,  first  assistant,  andT.  T.Hun- 
tington, second  assistant. 

The  population  of  the  village  is  now  about  twelve 
hundred,  mostly  of  American  and  English  extraction. 
Of  the  foreign  element,  the  German  largely  predomi- 
nates, although  the  "  Emerald  Isle "  furnishes  a  large 
representation.  And  while  it  is  but  slowly  increasing 
in  wealth  and  population,  there  seems  to  be  an  air  of 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIE.  613 

permanency  about  the  village  and  its  improvements, 
that  surely  denotes  a  prosperous  future. 

The  resources  of  the  place  are  much  the  same  as  con- 
tribute to  the  support  of  nearly  all  of  our  western  towns, 
being  principally  from  grain  growing  districts  around, 
making  this  a  common  center,  although  the  peculiar 
adaptation  of  the  surrounding  country  to  grazing  pur- 
poses will,  at  no  distant  future,  make  of  it  one  of  the 
most  important  dairying  districts  in  the  southern  por- 
tion of  the  state.  Even  now  it  is  estimated  that  more 
butter  and  eggs  are  shipped  from  this  station  than  any 
other  011  the  road  west  of  Milwaukee. 

Location"  and  Scenery.  —  A  sketch  of  Mazomanie 
would  be  incomplete  that  did  not  refer  to  its  advantages 
as  a  place  of  residence,  for  such  as  desire  a  more  quiet 
and  retired  life  than  the  city  affords,  and  yet  enjoy  most 
of  its  conveniences.  The  village  is  pleasantly  located 
on  both  sides  of  Black  Earth  creek,  where  it  opens  out 
into  the  valley  of  the  Wisconsin.  South  of  the  rail- 
road, which  passes  through  the  place,  a  little  south  of 
the  center,  is  a  sharp  rise  of  ground  for  a  few  rods, 
where  we  find  a  large  plateau,  where  are  many  beautiful 
locations  for  residences  not  yet  occupied.  Still  south 
of  this,  and  adjoining  the  village,  is  a  range  of  very 
pretty  bluffs,  skirted  with  forests  of  oak,  making  a  fine 
background,  and  giving  to  the  sceneiy  a  very  pictur- 
esque appearance. 

A  magnificent  view  of  the  place  and  of  the  surround- 
ing country  may  be  had  from  the  "  school  section  "  bluff 
on  the  southeast,  which  rises  abruptly  to  the  height  of 
about  three  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Wiscon- 
sin river.  From  this  elevation  the  observer  may  look 
down  upon  the  village,  nestled  among  the  maples  and 
elms,  with  which  every  street  is  lined,  and  which  have 


614  DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIE. 

become  the  pride  of  its  citizens.  Glancing  to  the  north- 
ward, he  will  see  the  Wisconsin  skirting  the  bluffs  on 
the  opposite  side,  many  of  which  her  currents  have 
hewn  squarely  down  to  the  waters  edge;  towards  the 
northeast,  he  sees  in  the  distance,  across  an  alternating 
landscape  of  forest  and  field,  the  prairies  of  Sauk  county, 
dotted  here  and  there  with  farm-houses,  and  extending 
back  to  the  Baraboo  bluffs.  On  the  east  and  southeast, 
Black  Earth  creek  and  her  tributaries  may  be  seen  wind- 
ing their  serpentine  courses  through  pleasant  vallej's  and 
rich  meadows,  with  the  constantly  varying  scenery  of 
forest,  bluff,  and  cultivated  field.  On  the  south,  at  a 
distance  of  twelve  miles,  he  distinctly  sees  the  lofty 
summits  of  the  Blue  Mounds,  towering  like  sentinels 
above  the  intervening  elevations  of  land,  while  turning 
to  the  westward,  the  view  opens  upon  a  magnificent  per- 
spective of  the  broad  valley  of  the  Wisconsin,  which 
may  be  seen  for  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  an  almost  un- 
broken landscape  of  field  and  meadow,  diversified  with 
constantly  receding  patches  of  forest,  while  at  intervals 
in  the  distance  the  abrupt  faces  of  the  bluffs  upon  either 
side  of  the  river  seem  to  approach  each  other,  until  at 
nearly  the  utmost  range  of  vision  they  appear  to  meet, 
thus  closing  up  the  further  view  of  the  course  of  this 
magnificent  river,  on  its  way,  through  narrow  defiles 
and  shifting  sands,  to  join  the  Father  of  Waters  on  his 
course  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Although  this  village  is  not  noted  for  its  magnificent 
edifices,  yet  she  has  many  pretty  residences,  public  build- 
ings, and  places  of  business,  no  less  than  thirty  of  which 
are  substantial,  first-class  brick  and  stone  buildings.  It 
has  been  the  pride  of  her  citizens  to  not  only  supply  the 
lack  of  a  natural  growth  of  forest  trees,  by  planting  out 
large  quantities  of  the  rapidly  growing  maple  and  elm 


DANE    COUNTY    TOWNS MAZOMANIE.  615 

on  the  streets,  and  with  various  kinds  of  evergreens  and 
deciduous  trees  of  different  species,  in  private  yards  and 
grounds,  but  in  beautifying  them  with  flowers  and 
shrubs,  and  adorning  their  dwellings  with  choice  pic- 
tures and  rare  curiosities,  as  well  as  in  providing  for  the 
literary  and  musical  culture  and  entertainment  of  the 
household. 

Society.  —  A  noticeable  feature  in  the  social  elements 
of  which  Mazomanie  is  composed  is,  that  while  it  boasts 
of  as  good  society  as  is  furnished  by  any  town  of  its  size 
and  pretensions,  there  is  but  little  inclination  to  divide 
into  "sets,"  as  is  too  often  the  case,  but  with  remarka- 
ble unanimity,  her  citizens  are  disposed  to  treat  each 
other  with  the  consideration  to  which  they  are  entitled, 
Avithout  regard  to  "worldly  wealth  or  honors/'  In  soci- 
eties and  other  organizations,  a  certain  degree  of  exclu- 
siveness  is  necessarily  required. 

In  summing  up  the  many  desirable  features  possessed 
by  Mazomanie,  we  must  not  overlook  that  of  health, 
which  is  paramount  to  all  other  considerations  in  se- 
lecting a  place  for  permanent  location.  It  has  long 
been  known  as  one  of  the  most  healthful  places  in  the 
country,  as  has  often  been  remarked  by  those  who  have 
been  acquainted  with  it  for  many  years.  Adding  to  this 
its  beauty  of  location,  its  business  capacities  and  re- 
sources, its  convenience  to  leading  places  of  the  north- 
west, such  as  Milwaukee,  Chicago,  the  capital  of  the 
state,  etc,  ready  access  to  all  points  in  Iowa  and  Min- 
nesota, its  society,  churches  and  schools,  make  it  one  of 
the  most  desirable  places  of  residence  to  be  found  among 
the  smaller  towns  of  the  state. 


TOWNS  ADJACENT. 


EYANSVILLE,  EOCK  CO. 

BY  D.  JOHNSON,  LEVI  LEONARD  AND  JACOB  WEST,  Esq. 

The  township  of  Union,  of  which  the  village  of 
Evansville  is  at  the  present  time  the  principal  and 
leading  market  town,  was  first  settled  in  the  fall  of 
1839.  The  first  settlers  were  Ohas.  McMillan,  Sam- 
uel Lewis,  Stephen  Jones,  Erastus  Quivey,  John 
Khinehart  and  Boyd  Phelps.  In  the  spring  of  1840, 
there  was  a  large  immigration  from  the  east  and  south 
to  this  part  of  the  state,  and  among  those  making 
their  homes  in  this  town  were  Rev.  John  Griffith, 
Hiram  Griffith,  John  A.  Griffith,  Ira  Jones,  Jacob 
"West,  John  T.  Baker,  J.  W.  Haseltine,  Levi  Leonard, 
David  Johnson,  Daniel  Johnson,  John  Cook,  John 
Adams,  "Washington  Higday  and  John  Sale,  and  the 
population  was  further  increased  by  a  large  immi- 
gration in  the  fall  of  the  same  year. 

The  first  school  house  in  the  settlement  was  built 
in  1841,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  the  present 
site  of  Evansville,  and  the  first  teacher,  Miss  Mary 
Jane  True.  The  next  was  built  at  or  near  the  now 
village  of  Union,  between  Janesville  and  Madison, 
where  the  first  post  office  was  established.     The  third 


618  TOWNS    ADJACENT — EVANSVILLE. 

school  house  in  the  town  was  built  on  the  present  site 
of  Evansville,  and  was  built  of  logs,  and  used  both  as 
church  and  school  house,  and  the  first  teacher  our  now 
worthy  citizen,  Levi  Leonard.  The  first  settler  on  the 
land  now  embraced  in  the  village  plat  was  Amos 
Kirkpatriek,  in  1842.  About  the  same  time  Wilbur 
Potter  settled  here  and  built  a  chair  factory,  and  then 
Henry  and  Lewis  Spencer,  whose  residence  is  still 
here,  they  having  built  the  first  frame  dwellings  in  the 
town.  In  the  summer  of  1S45,  J.  M.  Evans,  from 
Laporte,  Indiana,  settled  here  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  medicine. 

Up  to  1848,  the  principal  centers  of  business  for 
the  whole  country  between  Janesville  and  Madison 
w7ere  at  the  village  of  Union,  a  post  town  on  the  terri- 
torial road  three  miles  north  of  the  present  site  of 
Evansville,  or  Cooksville,  on  the  Badfish  creek,  four 
miles  northeast  of  Union,  and  in  that  year  William 
"Winston  and  C.  R.  Bent  built  and  filled  the  first  store 
in  the  place,  which  up  to  this  date  had  neither  name 
nor  post  office,  the  citizens  having  to  go  to  Union  for 
their  mail.  Upon  the  establishing  of  a  j>ost  office  in 
1849,  the  name  of  Evansville  was  chosen.  In  1855,  the 
ground  was  surveyed  and  platted,  and  the  name  of  the 
post  office  was  selected  as  the  future  name  of  the  vil- 
lage, from  which  time  to  the  present  the  growth  of 
the  place  has  been  steady  and  healthy.  In  1863,  the 
Beloit  and  Madison  railroad  was  completed,  which 
gave  the  place  a  new  impetus,  and  in  1865,  Evansville 
became  a  chartered  village,  officered  by  a  president 


TOWNS    ADJACENT EVAXSVILLE.  619 

and  board  of  trustees,  clerk  and  treasurer,  and  under 
the  healthy  working  of  our  charter  and  good  manage- 
ment of  its  officers,  our  streets  have  been  improved, 
sidewalks  made  and  repaired,  shade  trees  planted,  until 
we  now  have  as  handsome  and  thrifty  a  village  as  there 
is  in  the  west,  and  what  with  its  water  and  steam 
power  in  the  hands  of  our  enterprising  business  men, 
bids  fair  for  a  prosperous  future. 

To  the  person  seeking  a  pleasant  home,  or  as  a  place 
of  summer  resort,  there  is  no  place  in  the  west  that 
offers  better  inducements  than  Evansville.  Society 
is  of  the  best,  manifesting  refinement,  intelligence  and 
good  taste;  not  only  in  the  well  kept  and  nicely 
graded  streets,  good  sidewalks,  and  the  beautiful  gar- 
dens and  pleasant  homes,  with  the  absence  of  any 
saloons  for  the  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks,  but  with 
the  prevailing  influences  of  Christian  privileges  and 
blessings,  is  every  thing  that  goes  to  make  a  home 
pleasant  and  desirable.  The  village  is  located  in  one 
of  the  best  farming  and  grazing  sections  of  Wiscon- 
sin, and  is  skirted  on  the  north  by  a  beautiful  grove 
of  oak  timber,  while  in  every  other  direction  farms 
and  farm  houses  abound  in  beautifying  effect.  The 
country,  when  in  its  natural  state,  was  about  one-half 
timber  and  the  rest  prairie;  but  since  the  stumps 
have  been  removed  on  the  timber  farms,  and  artificial 
groves  planted  on  the  prairie,  a  person  unacquainted 
with  the  locality  in  former  times  would  hardly  dis- 
tinguish the  difference;  with  good  roads,  and  pleasant 
drives  in  every  direction,  the  seeker  after  pleasure  or 


620  TOWNS   AD.J  A.CEX T E  VANSVILLE. 

pleasant  homes  can  find  no  better  place  than  Evans- 
ville. 

In  the  first  settlement  of  this  town,  the  religious 
and  moral  tone  of  the  people  had  much  to  do  in  the 
forming  and  regulating  society,  and  in  after  years, 
through  this  influence,  the  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks 
publicly,  has  always  been  prohibited;  so  that  up  to 
the  present  time,  no  license  has  ever  been  granted  to 
a  liquor  saloon.  The  first  church  was  organized  in 
the  summer  of  1840  by  the  Episcopal  Methodists,  with 
a  membership  of  twenty-seven ;  and  the  first  church 
edifice  was  erected  by  them  in  1846-47,  being  a  plain 
but  comfortable  frame  building.  In  the  year  1866, 
the  old  church  was  sold  to  give  place  for  a  business 
block,  and  a  new  and  more  commodious  one  (built  of 
white  brick)  was  erected.  The  membership  now 
numbers  about  178,  and  the  present  pastor  is  the  Rev. 
J.  D.  Cole. 

The  next  church  organization  was  the  Freewill 
Baptist,  in  1854,  with  a  membership  of  30,  and  the 
same  year  they  erected  a  very  neat  frame  church  edi- 
fice, and  furnished  it  with  the  first  church  bell.  They 
have  increased  until  they  now  number  about  67  mem- 
bers. Their  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  B.  F.  Mc- 
Kenney. 

The  next  church  was  organized  by  the  Congrega- 
tionalists  in  the  same  year,  1854,  with  a  member- 
ship of  eleven,  and  in  1857  they  erected  a  very  neat 
red  brick  church  edifice.  Their  numbers  have  in- 
creased, so  that  they  have  now  a  membership  of  sev 


TOWNS    ADJACENT EVANSVILLE.  621 

enty-five.    The  Tlev.  James  W.  Harris  is  their  present 
pastor.     . 

The  regular  Baptists  next  organized  a  church  in  1856, 
with  thirty-four  members,  and  reorganized  in  1867, 
and  in  this  rear  they  erected  a  very  commodious 
white  brick  church  edifice,  and  furnished  it  with  a 
bell.  Their  numbers  have  increased  to  seventy-one. 
The  Tier.  C.  N.  Lathrop  is  their  present  pastor. 

The  Episcopalians  next  organized  a  society  in  1869, 
with  a  membership  of  twenty-five,  and  in  1870,  they 
erected  a  very  neat  frame  edifice,  and  furnished  it  with 
the  best  bell  in  the  place.  Their  numbers  have  in- 
creased to  forty-six  members,  and  their  present  rector 
is  the  Rev.  Henry  Green. 

The  early  settlers  were  not  unmindful  of  the  neces- 
sity of  providing  for  the  education  of  their  children, 
knowing  well  that  the  prosperity  of  our  country  and 
its  civil  liberties  depended  on  the  education  of  the 
rising  generation.  Our  common  schools  under  the 
township  organization  were  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
but  the  rapid  growth  of  our  village  demanded  higher 
branches  of  education;  consequently  an  organization 
was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  seminary  of 
learning,  August  10,  1855,  and  a  charter  was  obtained 
the  winter  following;  at  the  same  time  a  select  or 
high  school  was  commenced  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  building,  it  being  the  most  suitable  place 
for  a  high  school,  under  the  supervision  of  R.  O.  Kel- 
logg, and  was  continued  under  the  supervision  of 
competent  teachers  till  the  spring  of  1859,  when  D. 


622  TOWNS   ADJACENT EVANSVILLE. 

Y.  Kilgore  opened  a  school  in  the  seminary  building, 
and  continued  prosperously  under  the  patronage  of 
the  different  Christian  denominations  until  the  spring 
of  1874.  In  1S6S-9  the  citizens  of  Evansville,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  state  laws,  organized  and  built  a 
large  graded  school  building,  and  opened  under  the 
supervision  of  S.  S.  Gard.  Of  the  many  graduates 
from  the  Evansville  Seminary,  quite  a  number  have 
arisen  to  eminence  and  distinction,  among  which  we 
might  mention  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Spencer,  now  of 
Haverhill,  Mass.;  Rev.  Mr.  Marshall,  now  a  mis- 
sionarv  at  the  East  Indies;  J.  ~\Y.  Sale,  now  district 
attorney  of  Rock  county;  B.  W.  Jones,  ex-disfcrict 
attorney  of  Dane  county;  L.  13.  Sale,  attorney,  Green 
Bay;  Hon.  R.  E.  Pettigrew,  Sioux  Falls,  Dakota; 
Geo.  R.  Mitchell,  M.  D.,  Richland  Center;  D.  B. 
Bennett,  M.  D.,  Colorado.  The  graded  school,  as 
now  changed  to  a  high  school,  seemed  to  supersede 
the  necessity  of  the  seminary,  as  has  been  the  case 
with  many  of  the  institutions  of  this  kind,  it  only  be- 
ing a  step  from  this  to  the  State  University.  The 
high  school  department  is  now  under  the  supervision 
of  A.  R.  Sprague,  principal,  with  an  able  assistant, 
and  also  four  graded  departments  with  an  able  corps 
of  teachers,  which  are  now  in  a  very  prosperous  and 
flourishing  condition. 

Among  the  business  enterprises  of  the  place,  the 
foundry  and  machine  shop  of  A.  S.  Baker  &  Co.  de- 
serves special  mention.  The  company  started  in 
business  in  April,  1873;    commencing  at  first  in  a 


TOWNS    ADJACENT EVANSVILLE.  623 

small  way,  but  procuring  the  best  of  machinery,  their 
busines  has  been  steadily  on  the  increase  until  at  the 
present  time  they  are  doing  a  flourishing  business, 
employing  ten  or  twelve  men,  and  have  a  reputation 
of  doing  first  class  work,  having  in  the  past  year 
manufactured  1,800  iron  pumps,  100  windmills,  be- 
sides doing  a  large  amount  of  jobbing  work  and  re- 
pairing. Also  the  manufactory  of  Lehman  Brothers, 
wholesale  and  retail  manufacturers  and  dealers  in 
household  furniture,  commenced  business  in  August, 
1870;  they  too,  commencing  small  and  enlarging  as 
the  wants  of  the  trade  demanded,  until  they  have 
built  up  a  business  that  is  an  honor  to  the  place,  and 
doing  a  business  at  the  present  time  amounting  to 
over  twenty  thousand  dollars  a  year.  Both  the  above 
mentioned  factories  use  steam  for  power. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Evansville  was  estab- 
lished in  November,  1874,  and  continued  as  such  till 
January,  1875 ;  it  then  changed  to  the  state  system, 
under  the  name  of  the  Bank,  of  Evansville,  with  a 
paid  up  capital  of  $25,000,  and  the  stock  is  now 
owned  by  L.  T.  Pullen  and  J.  C.  Sharp,  who  are  its 
officers;  and  the  average  deposits  amount  to  about 
$50,000,  which  shows  the  prosperity  of  the  business 
men  here,  as  well  as  the  confidence  they  have  in  the 
bank.  In  the  dry  goods  and  grocery  department  are 
five  well  filled  stores.  The  firm  of  N.  Winston  & 
Sons  commenced  business  in  1855,  under  the  firm 
name  of  J.  Winston  &  Sons;  although  there  have  been 
some  changes,  the  present  senior  partner  has  been  a 


624  TOWNS    ADJACENT EVANSVILLE. 

continuous  member  during  the  whole  time,  and  is 
now  doing  a  large  and  profitable  business.  Smith  & 
Eager  commenced  business  in  the  building  now  occu- 
pied by  them,  in  1868,  and  have  had  an  extensive 
trade,  and  at  present  are  classed  among  our  successful 
business  men.  Winston  &  Woodbury  are  successors 
of  J.  Winston  &  Son,  established  in  1863.  Some 
changes  have  been  made,  but  the  present  R.  Winston 
has  been  a  continuous  member  of  the  firm  from  the 
start;  it  is  an  old  reliable  house.  Evansville  Mer- 
cantile Association  do  a  dry  goods,  groceries  and  gen- 
eral mercantile  business;  said  association  was  estab- 
lished in  1874,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry.  The  association  has  the  past  year  built  a 
large  and  commodious  store,  with  a  fine  hall  above 
for  the  use  of  the  Evansville  Grange.  They  are  hav- 
ing an  extensive  trade,  and  must  be  doing  a  satis- 
factory business;  their  present  agent  and  business 
manager  is  T.  C.  Richardson.  Pullen  &  Wilder 
commenced  business  in  1874;  although  they  are  both 
young  men,  they  are  not  young  in  business,  having 
both  been  raised  to  handle  the  tape;  they  have  already 
built  up  a  large  and  prosperous  trade,  and,  in  the  end, 
must  win.  Our  business  in  the  groceries  and  con- 
fectionery goods  are  represented  by  three  well  stocked 
stores.  Ransom  Griffin  commenced  business  in  1871; 
Richardson  Brothers  commenced  in  1874,  and  Bevier 
&  Hall  in  1876 ;  all  doing  a  good  business  in  their  line. 
There  are  two  well  filled  drug  stores  in  the  place 
where  can  always  be  found  drugs,  paints,  oils,  window 


TOWNS    ADJACENT — EVANSVILLE.  625 

glass,  and  everything  usually  found  in  first-class  drug 
stores.     The  old  pioneer  drug  store  is  run  by  Doctors 
Dewitt  Griswold  and  J.  M.  Evans  —  the  other  by  ('. 
M.  Smith,  M.  I).     The  hardware  trade  of  the  place  is 
now  controlled  by  Snashall  &  Mygatt,  an  enterprising 
firm ;  they  carry  a  large  stock  of  the  best  goods.    F.  A. 
Baker,  practical  tinner,  keeps  a  large  stock  of  tinware 
on  sale.     Two  clothing  stores,  E.  Robinson,  established 
in  1870,  and  Spencer  &  Pullen,  in  1876;    both  doing 
a  o-ood  business.     The  retail  trade  of  boots  and  shoes 
is  in    the   hands  of  Geo.  E.  Shaw  and  C.  K.  Lanclon, 
two  well  filled  stores.     Two  boot  and  shoe  shops,  one 
run  by  Plaisted  &  Bargewell,  the  other  by  Chas.  Clif- 
ford.    Three  milliners'  stores,  one  by  Mrs.  Gunn,  one 
by   Mrs.  Morrow,  and  the  other  by  Misses  Gilman  & 
Spencer.     Evan svi lie  has  long  been  noted  for  its  har- 
ness  manufacture,   and   there  are  at  the  present  time 
four  harness  shops;  E.  W.  Stearns,  established  in  1855, 
E.  Blakeley  in  IS'!!.  EL  Monshau  in  1870, and  George 
Taggart  in   1877.     In   each  and  all  can  be  found  the 
goods  usually  kept  in  first-class  harness  shops.     Blake- 
ley and  Stearns  carry  on  carriage  trimming  in  connec- 
tion with  their  business.     In  butchers'  meats  we  are 
bountifully   supplied;     three     first-class     markets  — 
Campbell  &  Springer,   established  in  1871,  Joslin  & 
Budlong  in  1875,  and  Hay  ward  Brother  in  1876.     We 
have  two  well  stocked  lumber  yards  —  one  by  Fifield 
&  Co.  (K.  F.  Randolph,  agent),  established  in  1864, 
the  other  by  R,  Winston  &  Co.,  1S73  —  both  doing-  a 
good  business.     Have  an  extensive  country,  as  well  as 
40 


626 


T<  >WNS    ADJACENT EVANSVILLE. 


village  trade.  Four  wagon  and  carriage  shops  —  John 
II.  Winston,  established  in  1861;  John  Evans,  1870; 
Allen  &  Holman,  1876,  and  Baker  &  Garfield,  1876. 
Three  blacksmith  shops  —  Baker  &  Garfield,  Allen  & 
Holman,  and  Clifford  &  Gratasinger.  Baker  A:  (Tar- 
field  also  carry  on  the  manufacture  of  plows,  in  connec- 
tion with  their  other  business.  There  is  one  well  filled 
•jewelery  store,  with  a  large  stock  for  the  size  of  the 
place,  owned  and  run  by  C.  B.  Morse,  practical  work- 
man.   The  best  goods  for  sale,  and  the  best  work  done. 

The  mechanics  and  artisans  of  the  place  are  second 
to  no  other.  Our  list  of  carpenters  and  joiners  com- 
prises the  well  known  names  of  1ST.  Libby,  Win.  Libby, 
Daniel  Doolittle,  Wm.  H.  Morgan,  L.  Walker,  A. 
Snashall,  A.  Hoskins  and  William  Wilcox.  Masons 
and  plasterers,  D.  B.  Huckins,  T.  F.  Shurrum  and 
James  Brown.  House  and  carriage  painters,  M.  E. 
Hanover,  Chas.  Pows  and  Geo  Backenstose. 

The  best  index  to  the  intelligence  of  any  people  can 
be  found  at  the  post  office,  and  printing  office.  As 
the  room  allotted  will  not  admit  of  a  detailed  state- 
ment of  the  business  of  our  office,  we  will  mention 
the  business  for  one  quarter,  ending  December  31, 
1876,  of  the  Evansville  post  office: 

Received  for  money  orders  and  fees  on  same .$4,710  38 

Received  for  stamps  and  envelops 521  00 

Received  for  box  rents 45  20 

$5,276  f.7 
Paid  money  orders  drawn  on  this  office 3,284  99 

Total  for  the  quarter $8,  561  66 

The  Evansville  Review,  a  weekly  newspaper,  was 


TOWNS    ADJACENT EVANSVILLE.  627 

established  here  in  1866,  by  I.  A.  Hoxie,  its  present 
owner  and  editor.  For  ten  long  years  it  has  covered 
up  our  faults,  exalted  our  virtues,  received  our  abuse, 
and  not  unfrequently  abused  us  in  return,  and  yet  it 
still  lives. 

The  morals  of  the  place  can  be  judged  by  the  large 
number  of  ministers,  and  but  one  lawyer.  Of  min- 
isters, we  have  Reverends  E.  Robinson,  0.  H.  Wilder, 
C.  N.  Lathrop,  J.  W.  Harris,  B.  F.  McKinney,  Henry 
Green  and  J.  D.  Cole.  The  law  has  been  expounded 
to  us  for  the  last  twenty-two  years  by  the  Hon.  D.  L. 
Mills,  who  pleads  our  causes,  makes  our  conveyances, 
and,  in  addition,  does  a  large  amount  of  insurance 
business,  he  having  always  rej)resented  some  of  the 
best  companies  in  the  United  States.  Of  physicians, 
we  have  Doctors  J.  M.  Evans,  M.  C.  Smith,  E.  W. 
Beebe,  and  A.  IT.  Robinson,  dentist  and  surgeon. 
Among  the  institutions  that  should  have  been  men- 
tioned,  but  was  almost  forgotten,  is  that  of  West  & 
Potter,  dealers  in  chromos,  engravings,  stereoscopic 
views,  cords,  tassels,  picture  frames,  school  books,  sta- 
tionery, and  news  depot,  rooms  at  the  post  office. 

Strangers  stopping  here  can  find  two  good  hotels, 
and  take  their  choice.  The  Spencer  House  is  located 
in  the  center  of  the  business  portion  of  town,  and  is 
kept  by  Col.  Beebe.  The  Evansville  House,  kept  by 
Daniel  "Wadsworth",  near  the  depot.  Both  no  license 
houses,  as  there  never  has  been  a  license  to  sell  intox- 
icating drinks  granted,  since  the  first  organization  of 
the  town,  and  if  the  morals  of  its  inhabitants  can  be 
kept   up  to  the  present  standard,  there  never  will  be. 


628  TOWNS    ADJACENT LAKE    K0SHK0N0NG. 


LAKE  KOSHKONONG. 

BY  AN  OLD  SETTLER. 

Lake  Ivoshkonong-  is  principally  situated  in  Jeffer- 
son county,  Wisconsin,  but  its  southwest  end  touches 
Dane  county,  and  its  southern  part,  Rock  county. 
Its  main  length  is  about  nine  miles,  in  the  direction  of 
northeast  and  southwest;  its  broadest  part  about  four 
miles.  Its  shape  is  somewhat  irregular,  and  it  has 
its  bays  and  promontories,  and  which  are  known  as 
Buffalo  and  Bingham's  bays,  and  Lee's,  Taylor's  and 
Bingham's  "points."  Rock  river  enters  the  lake  at 
the  northeast  end,  at  Blackhawk  Island,  and  leaves  it 
at  the  southwest  end,  at  Newville.  On  the  northwest 
side,  Koshkonong  creek  and  Alpeter's  creek,  and  on 
the  southeast  side,  Otter  creek,  add  to  the  volume  of 
its  water,  as  also  do  innumerable  springs  all  around 
and  in  many  places  even  in  the  lake,  which  is  rather 
a  shallow  sheet  of  water,  with  mostly  muddy  bottom. 

What  is  called  "  Blackhawk  Island "  is  an  island 
only  at  high  water,  and  is  formed  by  having  the  Rock 
river  on  the  east,  and  the  lake  on  the  south  and  west 
side,  being  connected  with  the  main  land  only  by  a 
narrow  strip  of  low  land  on  the  north. 

The  land  surrounding  the  lake  consists  to  a  great 
extent  of  low  and  very  extensive  marshes,  on  which 
thousand  of  tons  of  hay  are  annually  cut;  but  lime- 
stone bluffs  exist  in  many  places  all  around  the  lake, 
viz.:  at  C.  Lee's,  R.  Bingham's, Taylor's  point,  ]STew- 
ville,  E.  Bingham's,  and  the  place  of  Mr.  Langhoff. 

The  lake,  with  its,  in  many  places,  marshy  shores 
and  hundreds  of  acres  of  wild  rice,  and  the  grass-like 


TOWNS  ADJACENT  —  LAKE  KOSHKONONO.     629 

plant,  known  to  botanists  as  Vallisneria  spiralis, 
growing  in  it  in  the  greatest  abundance,  used  to  be  a 
great  favorite  place  for  ducks,  and  especially  the  fur- 
famed  Canvassback  {Aythya  vallisneria),  which,  with 
the  Bedhead,  is  particularly  fond  of  the  Vallisneria 
spiralis.  Geese,  cormorants  and  white  pelicans  were 
also  very  numerous,  and  fifty  to  one  hundred  of  those 
latter  birds  could  be  seen  at  one  time  in  the  latter 
part  of  April  or  first  of  May. 

In  the  marshes  and  on  the  shores  were  a  great 
variety  of  waders,  viz.:  the  great  blue  heron,  the 
large  white  heron,  the  snowy  heron,  the  night  heron, 
and  the  least  heron,  six  species  of  the  plover  family 
and  Wilson's  Phalarope,  the  most  beautiful  of  all  our 
waders,  was  in  abundance.  Of  the  snipe  family, 
twenty  species,  besides  curlews  and  godwits.  Three 
species  of  rails,  and  gallinules  and  coats,  very  plenty. 
But  owing  to  a  continued  sporting  kept  up  every 
spring  and  fall  for  years,  the  birds  have  either  greatly 
diminished  in  number  or  found  other  places  where 
they  are  less  disturbed,  as  now-a-days  but  few  visit 
the  lake  compared  with  what  they  did  only  ten  years 
ago.  Ducks,  even  such  as  shelldrakes,  whistlers  and 
butterballs,  bring  something  in  the  markets  of  the 
large  cities,  and  hence  they  must  be  killed  and  sold 
for  the  little  they  bring.  Coots  are  yet  numerous, 
though  not  so  numerous  as  formerly;  but  though 
they  don't  sell  as  well  as  shelldrakes  and  butterballs, 
yet,  if  nothing  else  can  be  had,  the  fun  of  shooting 
them  is  all  the  same. 

As  for  the  fish  in  the  lake,  the  time  is  past  when 
twenty-eight  to  thirty-five  pound  pickerels  can  be 
found,  or  twenty-five  pound  catfish.     Bullheads  and 


630 


TOWNS  ADJACENT LAKE  KOSHKONONG. 


perch,  sunfish,  garpikes  and  dogfish  are  common  yet; 
but  the  pike,  pickerel,  bass,  redhorse,  sucker  and  cat- 
fish are  not  near  as  plentiful  as  formerly.  Perhaps 
the  dams  across  the  Rock  river,  below  the  lake,  are 
too  powerful  hindrances  for  the  fish  of  the  Mississippi 
river  to  go  up  to  our  waters  to  spawn;  if  so,  we  are 
effectually  prevented  from  ever  having  shad  success- 
fully planted  in  this  part  of  Rock  river. 

Having  been  more  interested  in  the  ornithology 
and  botany  of  the  lake  and  its  vicinity  than  in  the 
archaeology,  I  am  not  able  to  j>'ive  such  information  in 
regard  to  the  latter  as  I  should  wish,  and  will  only 
mention  a  few  facts  that  have  come  under  my  observa- 
tion, mostly  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  where  I  have 
lived  nearly  34  years,  facts  proving  that  this  lake  and 
vicinity  have  been  a  great  resort  of  the  Indians. 

On  the  land  of  Mr.  R.  Bingham  are  patches  of 
ground  where  yet  can  be  seen  what  is  supposed  to  be 
cornhills  worked  by  the  Indians.  While  plowing  or 
hoeing,  Indian  arrows,  stone  implements  and  pieces 
of  pottery  are  frequently  found;  these  relics  are  es- 
pecially numerous  on  the  farms  of  Mr.  R.  Bingham 
and  Mr.  Charles  Lee,  who  has  an  extensive  and  in- 
teresting collection,  picked  up  on  his  farms. 

Indian  mounds  of  different  sizes  and  shapes  were 
numerous  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  but  many  of 
them  are  now  leveled  by  the  plows.  Of  the  large 
mound  "  at  the  foot  of  the  lake"  lately  opened  and 
investigated,  and  where  interesting  relics  were  found, 
I  can  say  nothing,  as  I  have  never  visited  the  place. 
At  Busseyville,  near  the  creek,  there  used  to  grow  a 
very  large  oak  which,  thirty-four  years  ago,  and  at 
that  time  considered  old,  had  a  very  plain  and  good 


TOWNS    ADJACENT  —  LAKE    KOSIIEONONG.  631 

figure  of  a  mud  turtle  cut  on  the  side,  towards  the 
creek,  and  on  the  hill  north  of  it,  were  several  mounds, 
some  of  which  had  the  shape  of  mud  turtles.  These 
mounds  are  now  leveled,  and  the  land  cultivated. 

About  thirty  years  ago,  while  botanizing  near  the 
lake,  I  found  tobacco  (nicotiana  rustica  li/i)  growing 
in  a  wild  state  among  the  grass  on  Mr.  It.  Bingham's 
land,  and  I  understood  that  tobacco  was  found  grow- 
ing even  on  the  other  side  of  the  lake  at  about  the 
same  time.  This  was  at  a  time  when  the  first  settlers 
never  had  heard  of  raising  tobacco  in  the  state.  Since 
which  there  is  scarcely  a  farmer  for  miles  around  that 
is  not  engaged  in  raising  tobacco. 

In  1844r,  there  was  a  steamboat  going  through  the 
lake,  said  to  have  come  up  from  St.  Louis.  The  new 
settlers  hailed  this  occurrence  with  great  pleasure  and 
hopes,  expecting  to  have  a  communication  by  water 
opened  with  the  cities  on  the  Mississippi  river,  and 
bavins:  no  railroad  nearer  than  Buffalo,  IN".  Y.,  and 
sixty  to  seventy  miles  to  haul  their  grain  to  Milwau- 
kee, it  is  no  wonder  that  they  considered  the  coming 
up  of  this  steamboat  as  a  Godsend.  The  idea  never 
occurred  to  them  that  this  big  Rock  river,  on  which 
with  their  own  eyes  they  had  seen  a  steamboat  from 
St.  Louis,  ever  could  be,  by  any  authority,  pronounced 
an  unnavio-able  stream,  and  dams  allowed  to  be  built 
across  it. 

There  is,  after  all,  a  steamboat  on  the  lake  now, 
built  and  moored  at  Taylor's  point,  where  there  is  also 
a  good  hotel  for  visitors,  but  this  boat  will  probably 
have  to  confine  its  trips  between  Taylor's  point,  Fort 
Atkinson  and  Newville,  or  to  making  excursions 
around  the  lake. 


632         TOWNS  ADJACENT BROOKLYN. 


BROOKLYN. 

BY  J.  W.  HASELTINE,  Esq. 

The  town  of  Brooklyn  is  situated  ill  the  northeast 
corner  of  Green  county,  and  borders  on  the  towns  of 
Rutland  and  Oregon  in  Dane  county.  In  the  northeast 
part  of  the  town  there  is  some  very  good  land,  partly 
of  burr  oak  opening  and  good  prairie,  with  some  fine 
groves  of  timber,  while  on  the  east  side  of  the  town 
there  are  a  few  sections  of  good  prairie  land.  The  bal- 
ance of  the  town  is  oak  openings,  much  of  it  quite  high 
and  rolling,  and  not  of  the  best  quality. 

The  first  land  bought  for  actual  settlement  was  by  the 
writer,  on  the  26th  day  of  December,  1839,  on  the  north 
half  of  section  three,  and  which  he  still  occupies.  The 
first  house  in  the  town  was  built  by  W.  W.  McLaughlin 
in  the  fall  of  1812,  on  the  south  half  of  section  three, 
and  who  occupied  the  same  farm  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  April  2, 1877.  The  names  of  the  early  settlers  of 
the  town  are  J.  W.  Haseltine,  W.  W.  McLaughlin, 
Charles  Sutherland,  Elder  John  Sawin  and  his  three 
sons,  Alvin,  Ethan  and  Lorenzo,  Stephen  Smith  and 
three  sons,  Jonathan,  Charles  and  Emery,  Leonard  and 
Ezra  Doolittle,  Amos  D.  and  William  Kirpatrick,  Syl- 
vester Gray,  C.  D.  AY.  and  Arab  Leonard,  Jeremiah 
Anderson  and  son  Amos  (the  father  now  occupying  the 
{'arm  first  selected,  aged  eighty-two),  Nelson  J.  and 
Franklin  Patterson,  William  B.  Patterson,  William  R, 
Smith,  Sr.,  and  William  R.  Smith,  Jr.,  and  John  Pace. 
Henry  Montgomery  and  his  three  sons,  Cyrus  A.,  Tracy 
and  John,  were  early  settlers  in  the  town.     Cyrus  A. 


TOWNS    ADJACENT  —  BROOKLYN.  633 

and  John  still  reside  here.     The  father  died  in  1846, 
and  was  the  first  death  in  the  town. 

Of  the  above  list  of  persons,  those  who  have  died  are 
W.  W.  McLaughlin,  John  Sawin,  Stephen  Smith,  Win. 
Kirkpatrick,  Sylvester  Gray,  Amos  Anderson,  Wm.  R. 
Smith,  Sr.,  and  John  Pace.  Others  have  moved  away, 
so  that  few  of  the  very  early  settlers  remain. 

Alonzo  Melvin  with  a  large  family  settled  on  a  farm 
on  section  one,  about  the  year  1850.  Five  sons  of  the 
family  enlisted  in  the  army  of  the  late  war  of  the  re- 
bellion, and  suffered  terribly  by  disease  and  death. 
Shepard  and  Taylor  died  suddenly  of  disease  contracted 
while  in  the  army.  Fordice  R.  was  shot  through  the 
wrists  and  disabled  for  life.  He  holds  the  office  of 
treasurer  of  Green  county,  and  has  done  so  for  three 
terms  or  six  years,  ending  January  1,  1877,  and  as  such 
has  proved  himself  an  honest  and  capable  officer.  Oli- 
ver was  also  brought  home  from  the  army  terribly  dis- 
eased, but  has  finally  recovered  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
the  town.  Austin  A.  was  the  only  one  of  the  five  Avho 
came  back  unharmed.  Alonzo,  the  father,  died  two 
years  since,  full  of  years,  honored  and  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him,  one  of  nature's  noble,  honest  men. 

The  town  was  organized  and  the  first  town  meeting 
held  in  the  house  of  Nelson  J.  Patterson,  on  the  7th  day 
of  April,  1819,  the  writer  acting  as  clerk  and  making 
the  first  election  returns  from  the  town  to  Monroe,  the 
county  seat.  The  following  officers  were  elected :  Chair- 
man of  fin-  Town  Board  —  Amos  D.  Kirkpatrick.  Toicn 
Clerk  —  0.  P.  Stowell.  Assessor—-  W.  W.  McLaughlin. 
Treasurer  —  Martin  Flood.  Superintendent  of  Schools  — 
G.  G.  Godfrey. 

Names  that  have  been  prominent  among  the  town 
officers  are  W.  W.  McLaughlin,  who  was  chairman  of 
the  town  board  many  years,  and   assessed   the   town 


634:         TOWNS  ADJACENT BROOKLYN. 

twelve  or  thirteen  times,  and  lias  twice  been  a  meinbei 
of  the  legislature.  Amos  D.  Kirkpatrick  was  chairman 
several  years,  also  a  member  of  the  legislature  once  01 
twice.  C.  D.  VV.  Leonard  has  also  beeu  chairman  many 
times,  and  twice  a  member  of  the  legislature  from  the 
north  assembly  district  in  Green  county.  Town  clerks 
have  been,  0.  P.  Stowell,  James  McCoy,  for  eleven  "suc- 
cessive years,  J.  W.  Haseltine,  Ed.  Netherwoocl,  M.  F. 
Ross,  and  others. 

The  town  is  well  provided  with  school  houses  and  has 
two  Methodist  churches,  one  in  Attica  and  one  in  Brook- 
lyn.  At  an  early  clay  the  village  of  Attica  was  laid  out 
on  Sugar  river,  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  town,  and 
at  one  time  contained  a  flouring  and  saw  mill,  a  carding 
machine,  a  fulling  and  cloth  dressing  machine,  and  also 
distillery.  The  village  is  situated  on  Sugar  river,  and 
has  an  excellent  water  power,  but  now  has  only  a  good 
flouring  mill,  owned  by  Joseph  Bartlett. 

The  village  of  Brooklyn  is  situated  in  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  town,  on  the  railroad,  midway  between 
Evansville  and  Oregon,  six  miles  from  either.  It  con- 
tains four  stores,  a  cheese  factory,  a  good  lumber  yard, 
a  livery  stable,  two  hotels,  a  postoffice,  two  blacksmith 
shops,  two  harness  shops,  and  does  a  large  produce  and 
stock  business,  conducted  by  E.  J.  Andrew  &  Sons. 

B.  S.  Axtell  is  the  oldest  merchant  and  is  postmas- 
ter. He  commenced  business  here  soon  after  the  rail- 
road was  built,  and  does  a  safe  business.  L.  J.  Wilder 
keeps  a  good  store  and  is  an  excellent  business  man. 
The  Marvin  brothers  manage  the  hardware,  and  honest 
Charles  S.  Gray  runs  the  "  Grange  Store."  E.  J.  An- 
drew &  Sons  have  an  elevator  with  large  storage  ca- 
pacity, and  conduct  a  good  business  in  produce  and 
stock.  They  maintain  an  excellent  market,  and  are 
ever   ready   to   deal   honorably   with   their   customers. 


TOWNS    ADJACENT BROOKLYN.  635 

Tliey  have  done  much  to  make  Brooklyn  a  good  market 
for  a  large  section  of  country.  Lovejoy  &  Richards  sell 
the  lumber.  Frank  Lane  does  a  lively  livery  business. 
Conradson,  in  wood  and  iron  is  "  a  workman  that  need 
not  be  ashamed."  Melvins  &  Blair  own  the  cheese  fac- 
tory, and  have  a  reputation  for  making  good  cheese. 
J.  A.  Leonard,  blacksmith;  W.  A.  Morrow,  harness 
maker;  J.  R.  Richards,  harness  maker;  E.  H.  Graves, 
railroad  agent;  E.  D.  King,  confectionery  and  restau- 
rant; D.  H.  Glidden,  hotel;  Miss  Mattie  Wallace  and 
Mrs.  Addie  Murray,  milliners. 

Brooklyn  is  gradually  improving,  a  few  buildings  go- 
ing up  every  year,  and  is  a  great  convenience  and  help 
to  this  section  of  the  country. 


03(5  TOWNS   ADJACENT  —  LODI. 


LODI. 

BY  Hon.  JOHN  T.  CLARK. 

Location.  —  The  town  joins  the  town  of  Dane,  in 
Dane  county,  on  the  north,  and  is  situated  in  the  south- 
west part  of  Columbia  county.  It  is  formed  of  township 
No.  10  north,  of  range  8  east,  according  to  government 
survey,  except  sections  0,  7,  18,  19,  30  and  31,  which 
form  the  west  tier  of  sections  of  said  township,  and  be- 
long to  the  town  of  West  Point.  The  territory  of  which 
the  town  is  formed  was  at  first  a  part  of  Brown  county, 
then  of  Portage  county,  and  in  1816,  when  Columbia 
county  was  organized,  it  was  made  a  part  of  the  last 
named  county.  The  town  of  Lodi  was  organized  in  1319, 
previous  to  which  time  the  territory  described  as  town 
10,  ranges  7,  8  and  the  west  half  of  range  9,  consti- 
tuted, for  voting  purposes,  a  precinct  called  "  Pleasant 
Valley  precinct."  As  at  first  organized,  the  town  em- 
braced all  the  territory  belonging  to  said  precinct.  The 
name  of  the  town  was  suggested  by  Judge  Palmer. 

In  the  year  1850,  the  town  of  West  Point  was  taken 
from  the  western  part  of  said  territory,  embracing  all  of 
township  10,  range  7  (the  same  being  made  fractional 
by  the  course  of  the  Wisconsin  river),  also  the  west  tier 
and  a  half  of  sections  in  township  10,  range  8. 

In  the  year  1855,  the  town  of  Arlington  was  formed 
on  the  east  of  Lodi,  taking  therefrom  the  west  half  of 
town  10,  range  9,  except  the  west  tier  of  sections  in  said 
west  half,  which  west  tier  of  sections  remained  a  part  of 
Lodi,  until  the  year  1871,  when  the  county  board  of  su- 
pervisors of  Columbia  county,  to  whom  the  matter  had 


TOWNS  ADJACENT LODI.  637 

been  committed  by  an  act  of  the  legislature,  attached 
the  same  to  the  town  of  Arlington. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  Arlington,  the  half 
tipj-  of  sections  on  the  west,  which  had  been  made  a  part 
of  West  Point,  was  returned  to  Lodi. 

Soil.  —  The  soil  is  mostly  what  is  called  "  openings;" 
a  small  part  is  prairie.  The  surface  is  quite  undulating, 
sometimes  rising  into  bluffs  of  considerable  height.  The 
soil  is  fertile,  especially  along  the  streams,  except  in  the 
northern  and  northeastern  parts,  where  it  degenerates 
into  sand,  and  is  nearly  worthless.  The  town  is  watered 
by  one  of  the  finest  and  most  reliable  streams  in  the 
state.  About  four  miles  southwest  of  the  village,  in  the 
town  of  Dane,  jrou  find  a  marsh,  nearly  circular,  cover- 
ing from  a  section  and  a  half  to  two  sections  of  land. 
Around  this  marsh,  in  almost  every  direction,  the  land 
rises,  and  in  some  places  to  great  heights.  At  the  foot 
of  these  hills  and  about  the  borders  of  this  marsh  crop 
out  springs  innumerable,  which,  uniting  in  a  single 
stream,  flow  in  a  northeasterly  direction  and  form  the 
west  branch  of  Spring  creek.  Some  of  these  springs  are 
very  small,  while  others  are  ten  or  twelve  feet  in  diam- 
eter, from  which  wells  up  the  purest  water. 

This  stream  enters  Lodi  on  the  south  line  of  section 
33,  and  continues  its  northeasterly  course  through  sec- 
tions 33  and  34,  and  into  section  27,  where  it  receives, 
from  the  southeast,  a  tributary  of  the  same  character, 
which  is  called  the  east  branch  of  Spring  creek.  At  this 
point  the  stream  takes  a  northwesterly  course  and  flows 
out  of  the  town  through  the  west  line  of  section  S,  into 
the  town  of  West  Point.  About  half  a  mile  from  the 
west  line  of  Lodi,  it  receives  a  large  tributary,  known  as 
Rowan's  creek;  thence,  flowing  oat  on  about  a  mile 
and  a  half,  it  discharges  its  waters  into  the  Wisconsin 
river,  opposite  the  village  of  Merrimac,  in  Sank  county. 


638  TOWNS   ABIACENT  —  LODI.  * 

The  value  of  this  stream  to  the  town  can  hardly  be  esti- 
mated. It  determined  the  first  point  of  settlement,  and 
fixed  the  location  of  the  village,  and  of  the  railroad.  It 
furnishes  one  of  the  best  water  powers  in  southern  Wis- 
consin. This  pure  spring  water  cannot  be  surpassed  for 
the  propogation  and  raising  of  fish.  The  east  branch 
only  as  yet  has  been  used  in  fish  culture. 

About  a  half  mile  southeast  of  the  village,  on  the  east 
branch  of  Spring  creek,  ma}r  be  found  the  fish  ponds  of 

James  McCloud,  Nathaniel  Goodall  and Nelson,  of 

which  McCloud's  are  by  far  the  most  extensive.  From 
the  last  named  gentleman  the  following  information 
concerning  his  doings  in  fish  culture  has  been  derived: 
He  has  in  his  park,  of  about  two  acres,  six  ponds 
stocked  with  fish,  which  are  all  doing  well.  Within  this 
park  are  about  a  dozen  springs,  out  of  which  gushes  the 
purest  spring  water,  which  maintains  almost  an  even 
temperature  throughout  the  year.  In  April,  1875,  he 
made  two  ponds,  in  one  of  which  he  put  1,000  young- 
brook  trout  or  fry,  and  in  the  other,  5,000  fry  of  the 
Atlantic  salmon.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  made 
four  more  ponds,  one  of  which  he  stocked  with  brook 
trout  one  year  old,  one  with  black  and  white  bass;  and 
with  the  bass  he  also  put  in  four  sturgeon,  which  appear 
to  do  well.  One  pond  he  stocked  with  catfish.  In 
November,  1875,  he  put  into  his  hatching  house  10,000 
spawn  of  the  California  salmon,  which  hatched  out  dur- 
ing the  winter.  The  bass,  catfish  and  two  years  old 
trout  spawned  last  spring. 

Three  ponds  are  now  filled  with  young  fish  which 
are  growing  rapidly.  The  writer  of  this  chapter  visited 
these  ponds  last  week  and  saw  the  fish  fed.  It  is  a 
sight  worth  many  miles'  travel.  A  thousand  speckled 
trout,  from  six  to  ten  inches  long,  within  a  space  of 
about  twenty  feet  square,  leaping  and  gliding  over  each 


TOWNS    ADJACENT LODI.  639 

other  and  out  of  the  water  for  their  food  (water  clear  as 
crystal),  turning  up  their  beautiful  sides  in  the  sunlight, 
would  strengthen  the  weak  eyes  of  an  old  fisherman. 

This  creek  had  evidently  been  a  favorite  resort  for  the 
aborigines,  as  is  proven  by  the  great  number  of  mounds 
along  its  banks. 

This  stream  is  unfailing.  When  all  the  water  powers 
for  miles  around  have  given  out,  parties  can  here  get 
their  grinding  done.  They  have  come  here,  in  time  of 
drought,  even  from  beyond  Madison,  and  "  blessed  is  the 
man"  who  can  get  Lodi  flour. 

Early  Settlement.  —  In  the  month  of  April,  1845, 
two  brothers,  M.  C.  Bartholomew  and  G.  M.  Bartholo- 
mew, came  from  McLean  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  on 
section  22,  in  this  town.  In  May  following  came  Rev. 
H.  Maynard,  a  Methodist  minister,  and  planted  himself 
on  section  21.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  came  James 
McCloud,  and  stuck  his  stakes  on  section  27  and  built 
his  preemption  house,  which  was  a  log  house,  near  his 
present  residence.  This  has  been  his  home  ever  since, 
though  in  the  spring  of  1816  he  was  employed  in  running 
lumber  on  the  Wisconsin  river.  On  the  last  of  October 
in  this  year  came  W.  Gr.  Simons  and  settled  on  section 
33,  where  he  still  resides.  These  were  all  the  settlers 
who  came  that  year. 

In  1846,  came  I.  H.  Palmer  and  settled  on  section  27, 
and  in  the  spring  of  that  year  built  his  house,  and  dur- 
ing the  year  built  a  saw  mill  on  the  west  branch  of 
Spring  creek.  The  building  is  still  standing  at  the  east 
end  of  Andrews'  mill  dam,  and  near  the  law  office  of  R. 
Lindsay,  Esq.  In  the  same  year  came  Adam  Bowman, 
Nathan  Bowman,  Joseph  Brown  and  Jacob  Hurley,  all 
of  whom  settled  upon  section  26;  Aaron  Chalfant  and 
Johnson  Sowards,  on  section  21;  Amos  and  Jehu 
Strowd,  on  sections  25  and  36,  and  John  Chance,  on 


G10  TOWNS  ADJACENT LODI. 

section  19.  In  1847,  came  T.  S.  Wells  and  settled  on 
section  9;  Nathaniel  Goodall,  upon  section  26,  and  Peter 
Froland,  upon  sections  25  and  36.  Others  came  in  this 
year,  and  from  this  time  the  settlement  progressed  rap- 
idly. 

Indians.  —  When  the  first  settlers  came  in  1815,  they 
found  ahout  two  hundred  Indians  encamped  on  the  creek, 
near  where  the  village  now  stands.  These  were  mostly 
Winnehagoes;  a  few  were  Brothertowns.  During  that 
season  they  were  very  peaceable  and  friendly.  In  the 
fall  of  that  year  they  all  disappeared.  In  the  year  1817, 
they  came  back,  to  the  number  of  about  eighty,  with 
their  chief,  and  camped  on  the  creek  below  where  the 
Bartholomews  had  settled.  They  soon  began  to  show 
their  natural  propensities,  and  the  property  of  the  set- 
tlers occasionally  disappeared.  One  of  the  settlers,  Gr. 
M.  Bartholomew,  returning  to  his  home  from  an  absence, 
found  the  Indians  had  stolen  a  part  of  his  hogs.  He 
went  to  the  chief  and  complained.  The  chief  "  denied 
the  soft  impeachment,1'  but  the  complainant  insisted, 
and  resolutely  told  Mr.  Chief  that  he  could  have  till  the 
next  morning  when  the  sun  was  "  so  high,"  telling  him 
how  high  by  pointing,  to  be  off.  The  chief  promised  to  be 
off  at  once,  and  to  go  to  the  "  Milwaukee  Woods."  There- 
upon Bartholomew  roused  the  settlers,  to  the  number 
of  20  to  25,  and  the  next  morning,  when  the  sun  was 
"so  high"  tlurv  appeared  at  the  spot  "with  horse  and 
gun,"  but  the  Indians  had  left.  Fearing  they  might 
camp  again  near  enough  to  enable  them  to'  continue 
their  depredations,  our  cavalry  followed  their  trail,  and 
found  them  just  striking  their  tents  on  Rowan's  creek, 
in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Dekorra,  near  the  old  tavern 
stand  of  James  Wilson.  As  the  settlers  approached  the 
camping  ground,  they  were  discovered  by  two  hunters 
who  were  apparently  going  out  to  bring  in  some  game, 


TOWNS    ADJACENT  —  LOI)I.  C41 

either  tame  or  wild,  and  the  hunters  seeing  the  fearful 
array,  and  doubtless  fearing  "  more  to  follow,11  wheeled 
on  their  ponies,  and  rapidly  returned.  The  pursuers 
halted,  and  Bartholomew  went  forward  to  the  camping 
ground  (their  tents  were  not  yet  raised),  and  inquired 
of  the  chief  if  this  were  "  Mil  waukee  Woods.11  The  chief 
answered  "No;11  whereupon  he  was  informed  that  he 
could  have  just  five  minutes  in  which  to  take  his  depart- 
ure. At  the  expiration  of  the  time  named,  the  red  skins 
were  on  the  move.  The  pursuers  followed  at  a  respect- 
ful and  effective  distance  as  far  as  what  is  now  the  vil- 
lage of  Po3Tnette,  and  then  returned  to  their  homes. 
The  Indians  never  reappeared  nor  made  further  trouble. 

The  first  dwelling  erected  in  town  was  a  shanty  by 
M.  C.  Bartholomew,  in  building  which,  he  was  assisted 
by  two  Brothertown  Indians.  This  stood  on  section  22, 
near  the  spot  where  the  barn  of  W.  M.  Bartholomew 
now  stands. 

The  second  house  was  that  of  Rev.  H.  Maynard,  on 
section  21,  near  the  present  residence  of  Jonas  Narra- 
cong,  and  the  third  house  was  that  of  Gr.  M.  Bartholo- 
mew, on  section  22,  near  the  house  now  owned  by  Mil- 
ler Warren. 

Mills.  The  first  mill  erected  in  town  was  the  saw 
mill  by  I.  II.  Palmer,  as  before  stated;  the  next  was  a 
grist  mill  just  below  the  junction  of  the  two  branches 
of  Spring  creek,  on  section  27,  by  Samuel  Ring,  in  1848, 
since  owned  by  Freedom  Simons,  Adam  Schoneberger, 
James  H.  Hill,  and  now  owned  and  lately  improved  by 
Peter  Kehl.  Next,  in  1849,  came  the  grist  mill  of  I.  H. 
Palmer  on  the  west  branch  of  Spring  creek,  for  a  long 
time  owned  and  run  by  him,  and  now  owned  and  run 
by  E.  Andrews. 

Next  came,  in  1853,  the  grist  mill  on  section  16,  built 
and  for  a  long  time  owned  and  run  by  Jonas  Narracong, 
41 


6i2  TOWNS  ADJA.GENT— LODI. 

since  owned  by  Clark  &  Parr,  afterwards  owned  again  by 
Narraeong,  and  ]iow  owned  and  run  by  Voss  Brothers. 

In  the  same  year,  1853,  Dunlap  &  Blatchley  erected  a 
building  on  section  17,  intended  for  a  pail  factory,  which 
in  1858  was  converted  into  a  flouring  mill,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  run  as  such  by  various  parties.  It  was 
burned  in  1874,  and  has  not  been  rebuilt. 

In  or  about  the  year  1855,  Samuel  Ring  built  a  saw 
mill  on  section  8,  at  a  point  since  known  as  Okee;  this 
he  afterwards  sold  to  T.  S.  Wells,  who  added  a  feed  mill, 
owned  and  run  the  mills  for  some  time,  and  sold  out  to 
John  Brownrig,  who,  in  1875,  erected  a  large  grist  mill, 
and  carding  mill  at  the  same  place,  which  he  still  owns 
and  runs.  E.  Andrews  is  now  preparing  to  build  a  new 
flouring  mill  on  section  27. 

All  these  mills  are  on  Spring  creek,  which  furnishes 
the  only  water  power  in  town. 

The  early  settlers  of  this  town  were  a  sagacious  and 
remarkably  enterprising  class  of  men.  They  saw  that 
this  water  power,  and  the  shape  of  the  country  surround- 
ing it,  pointed  to  the  valley  of  Spring  creek  as  a 
business  center,  and  that  about  the  junction  of  these 
two  branches  of  the  creek,  must  be  collected  large  man- 
ufacturing and  business  interests.  They,  accordingly, 
took  off  their  coats  and  went  resolutely  and  hopefully 
at  the  work  of  building  up  a  town. 

I.  H.  Palmer,  who  has  long  been  known  in  all  the 
country  round  as  Judge  Palmer,  he  having  been,  in 
early  times,  county  judge  for  a  very  large  district  about 
here,  felt  impressed  with  the  idea  that  this  place  was 
related  to  the  whole  world,  and  in  order  to  grow,  the 
people  must  know  what  was  going  on  abroad,  and  they 
must  have  "  the  papers."  Therefore  he  applied  to  the 
government  for  a  post  office.  The  government,  not 
knowing  the  promise  of  the  location  as  well  as  the  set- 


TOWNS   ADJACENT LODI.  643 

tiers,  and  regarding  it  as  a  small  affair  in  an  out  of  the 
way  place,  denied  the  application.  Judge  Palmer,  noth- 
ing daunted,  then  proposed  to  the  government,  that  if 
a  post  office  could  be  located  here,  government  should  be 
at  no  expense  for  a  year,  either  for  the  office  or  for  carry- 
ing the  mail.  The  nearest  post  office  was  Clark's  Cor- 
ners, in  the  town  of  Springfield,  Dane  county,  a  distance 
of  nine  miles,  and  the  the  mail  must  be  brought  from  that 
point.  The  government  accepted  the  proposition,  and 
the  Judge  was  appointed  the  first  post  master  of  Lodi, 
in  July,  1848.  Until  April,  1849,  he  carried  and  brought, 
or  caused  to  be  carried  and  brought,  and  distributed  the 
mail  to'  and  from  Clark's  Corners.  The  receipts  of  the 
office  for  the  first  quarter  were  $2.28.  Unlike  most 
offices,  though  it  had  a  name,  it  had  no  local  habitation, 
or  rather,  it  had  a  portable  habitation,  being  carried 
about  in  the  judge's  hat. 

As  in  the  late  war  the  military  service  became  effi- 
cient when  headquarters  were  in  Gen.  Grant's  saddle,  so 
in  this  young  town  the  mail  service  was  efficient  when 
its  headquarters  were  in  Judge  Palmer's  hat,  for  it  ap- 
peared that  when  the  year  had  expired,  the  Government 
found  that  Lodi  was  something,  or  was  going  to  be,  and, 
in  1849,  established  a  mail  route  here,  with  James  0. 
Eaton  as  P.  M.  He  held  the  office  till  1853,  when  H.  M. 
Ayer  was  appointed.  James  0.  Eaton  succeeded  him  in 
1861.  In  1867,  Robert  Travis  succeeded  Eaton,  and 
held  the  office  till  January,  1875,  when  H.  R.  Eaton, 
the  present  incumbent,  was  appointed. 

It  is  said  that  when  Judge  Palmer  kept  the  postoffice 
in  his  hat,  sometimes  a  sudden  gust  of  wind  would  come, 
blow  his  hat  off  and  scatter  the  mail.  So  it  appears  this 
town  had  its  news  literally  "  borne  on  the  wings  of  the 
wind." 

Satisfied  that  Lodi  gave  promise  of  rapid  increase  of 


644  TOWNS  ADJACENT LODI. 

population  and  of  becoming  a  good  business  point,  in 
the  summer  of  1848,  Judge  Palmer  platted  a  part  of  sec- 
tion 27  as  a  village,  to  which  he  afterwards  made  two 
additions.  James  McCloud  has  also  made  three  addi- 
tions, and  John  Foote,  one.  The  village  was  called  Lodi, 
and  incorporated  in  1872,  embracing  section  27,  and 
naught  else. 

Its  first  officers  were:  Horatio  N.  Cowen,  president; 
E.  Andrews,  Alex.  Woods.  James  McCloud,  H.  C.  Brad- 
ley, William  Dunlap  and  Leonard  F.  Wanner,  trustees; 
Carlos  Bacon,  clerk;  John  Foote,  supervisor;  J.  M 
Pruyn,  treasurer;  H.  M.  Ayer,  police  justice. 

VILLAGE   OFFICEES. 

1873.  E.  W.  Gardner,  president;  E.  Andrews,  ¥m.  Dunlap, 
I.  V.  N.  Walker,  Win.  Goldspohn,  Thos.  Albiston,  Fred.  Hanson, 
trustees;  H.  M.  Ayer,  clerk;  J.  M.  Pruyn,  treasurer;  H.  M.  Ayer, 
assessor;  John  Foote,  supt.  of  schools;  A.  Woods,  police  justice. 

1874.  E.  W.  Gardner,  president;  E.  Andrews,  Win.  Dunlap, 
I.  V.  N.  Walker,  Win.  Goldspohn,  Thos.  Albiston,  Fred.  Hanson, 
trustees;  H.  M.  Ayer,  clerk;  H.  L.  Bancroft,  treasurer  ;John  Foote, 
supt.  of  schools;  G.  T.  Simons,  constable;  G.  M.  Bartholomew,  jus- 
tice of  the  peace ;  James  Seville,  police  justice. 

1875.  E.  W.  Gardner,  president;  E.  Andrews,  Wm.  Dunlap, 
I.  V.  N.  Walker,  Wm.  Goldspohn,  Thos.  Albiston,  Fred.  Hanson, 
trustees;  H.  M.  Ayer,  clerk;  John  Yule,  treasurer;  John  Foote, 
supt.  of  schools;  G.  T.  Simons,  constable;  G.  M.  Bartholomew, 
justice  of  the  peace ;  II.  M.  Ayer,  police  justice. 

1876.  E.  W.  Gardner,  president;  E.  Andrews,  J.  0.  Eaton,  G.  E. 
McKeebe,  Wm.  Goldspohn,  Thos.  Albiston,  Peter  Kehl,  trustees; 
J.  M.  Bartholomew,  clerk;  John  Yule,  treasurer;  Addison  Eaton. 
supt.  of  schools;  Alfred  Clements,  constable;  S.  S.  Dunning-,  justice 
of  the  peace;  II.  M.  Ayer,  police  justice. 

1877.  Thos.  Albiston,  president;  E.  Knuteson,  E.  Andrews, 
Peter  Kehl,  W.  M.  Bartholomew,  Henry  B.  Bancroft,  J.  0.  Eaton, 
trustees;  J.  M.  Bartholomew,  clerk;  Orrin  Rice,  treasurer;  G.  M. 
Bartholomew,  police  justice;  E.  W.  Gardner,  justice  .of  the  peace; 
Addison  Eaton,  supervisor;  J.  U.  Ray,  constable. 

The  first  store  was  built  in  1848,  by  I.  II.  Palmer,  and 
occupied  by  James  0.  Eaton,  in  December,  of  that  year, 
which  business  was  continued  by  said  Eaton  until  1S59. 
The  second   store  was  opened  by  Thomas  &  Pinney, 


TOWNS    ADJACENT LODT.  645 

December,  1848,  who  afterwards  sold  out  to  Samuel 
Ring.  The  third  store  was  opened  by  L.  D.  Barnes,  in 
the  tall  of  1850,  who  during  the  same  year  took  in  as  a 
partner,  James  McCloud,  who  in  various  forms  has  con- 
tinued in  the  business  ever  since.  At  present  there  are 
in  business  in  the  village  of  Lodi :  General  merchan- 
dise: Pruyn  &  Son,  McCloud  &  Son,  J.  Seville,  Eaton  & 
Cowen  and  E.  Knutesen.  Drugs  and  medicines:  Bar- 
tholomew and  Wanner,  and  J.  McCloud  &  Son.  Hard- 
ware: E.B.  Waite  &  Co.,  J.  F.  Collins  &  Bro.  Harness: 
Chase  &  Harris  and  John  Collins.  Shoes:  Chase  &  Co. 
Meat  markets:  J.  M.  Pruyn  and  C.Dearborn.  Jeweler: 
Henry  Haggard.  Millinery:  Mrs.  Of.  T.  Simons,  Mrs. 
Richards.  Tailor:  T.  Watson.  Livery:  G.  T.  Simons, 
P.Watson.  Furniture:  C.  Odell,  M.  Wickern.  Black- 
smiths: Chrisler  &  Co.,  S.  Holdridge.  A.  Ferguson,  Hans 
Kleber.  Wagons :  Quiggle  &  Terrill,  John  Buchanan, 
Henry  Schlosser.  Shoemakers:  M.  Cain,  Ole  Logan. 
Hotels:  Briggs  House,  by  P.  Watson;  Northwestern,  by 
J.  T.  Hidden.  Restaurants:  S.  H.  Hinds,  Thos.  Sparks. 
Groceries  and  provisions:  Otto  H.  Hinrichs.  Baker:  L. 
Buerger.  Lumber:  Vanderpool  &  Goldspohn,  J.  Mc- 
Cloud. Dairy  supplies:  Vaughan  &  Brookman.  Flour- 
ing mills;  E.  Andrews,  P.  Kehl.  Cheese  factory:  Lodi 
Valley  Cheese  Co.  Lawyers:  R.  Lindsay,  S.  H.  Watson. 
Printer:  Peter  Richards,  publisher  of  Lodi  Valley  News. 
Physicians:  E.  Howard  Irvin,  G.  E.  McKeebe,  S.  M. 
Blake.  Dentist:  E.  B.  Meeteer.  Card  printer  and  bar- 
ber: 0.  F.  Modler. 

On  section  8,  and  near  the  west  line  of  the  same,  on 
Spring  creek,  in  1855,  Messrs.  Matthews  and  Blatchley 
platted  a  small  village.  It  was  surveyed  by  G.  M.  Bar- 
tholomew, and  named  by  him  Okee,  that  being  the  In- 
dian name  given  to  the  creek  near  that  point,  which  is 
now  called  Rowan's  creek,  from  the  name  of  Wallace 


646  TOWNS    ADJACENT LODI. 

Rowan,  the  first  settler  upon  it.  At  Okee  are  Brown- 
rig's  Mills,  already  described. 

Over  twenty  years  since,  Lodi  felt  deeply  the  want  of 
a  market.  Situated  about  midway  between  Portage  and 
Madison,  surrounded  on  three  sides  by  a  most  excellent 
farming  country,  the  land  descending  to  the  village  in 
all  directions  except  where  Spring  creek  passes  out,  the 
weighty  products  gravitated  to  this  point.  But  no  one 
could  buy  them,  because  twenty  miles  lay  between  the 
village  and  a  railroad.  Hence,  the  proprietors  of  the 
town,  the  business  men,  and  the  population  as  well, 
looked  in  all  directions  for  an  iron  road.  After  many 
schemes,  which  for  a  time  gave  hope,  had  failed,  at  last 
the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Company  were  induced, 
by  the  very  liberal  offer  of  §40,000  from  Lodi,  with  con- 
siderable sums  from  other  towns  on  the  line,  to  build 
their  road  between  Chicago  and  St.  Paul  through  this 
town  and  village.  The  road  was  opened  in  the  month 
of  August,  1871.  Thereupon,  Lodi  became  at  once  a 
market  town,  and  it  is  said  that  more  grain  and  stock 
of  all  kinds  are  shipped  from  here  than  from  any  other 
station  on  the  road.     Lodi  is  no  longer  out  of  the  world. 

Churches.  —  Methodist.  The  four  settlers  who  came 
in  1815  were  all  Methodists;  one  of  them  a  minister. 
In  that  year  Rev.  L.  Harvey  established  a  church,  con- 
sisting of  Rev.  H.  Majmard,  his  wife  and  daughter.  M. 
C.  Bartholomew,  wife  and  daughter,  and  G.  M.  Barthol- 
omew and  wife  —  eight.  Class  leader,  Gr.  M.  Bartholo- 
mew w.  The  ministers  who  have  served  this  church  their 
time  and  order  of  service,  are  as  follows:  AYm.  Smith,  one 
year:  J.  Tasker,  preached  one  year;  Adams,  six  months; 
Rev.  H.  Maynard  finished  the  year;  S.  P.  Walden. 
one  year;  Jas.  Holmes,  six  months;  removed  by  Presid- 
ing Elder,  and  Matthias  Woodley,  finished  the  }-ear;  E. 
Bonce  two   years;  Nelson  Butler  Cochran,  two   years; 


TOWNS  ADJACENT LODI.  617 

S.  Dodge,  two  years;  J.  B.  Bacliman,  two  years;  R. 
Delap,  one  year;  K  Butler,  one  year;  J.  S.  Hurd,  two 
years;  J.  D.  Searles,  two  years;  B.  C.  Hammond,  one 
year;  J.  B.  Bacliman,  one  year;  J.  T.  Prior,  two  year-,; 
E.  Tasker,  two  years;  T.  M.  Fullerton,  one  year;  W. 
H.  Kellogg,  two  years;  J.  C.  Aspinwall,  two  years.  The 
church  edifice  was  erected  in  1853,  at  a  cost  of 
§1,500.  Present  number  of  members,  one  hundred  and 
seventy. 

The  Baptist  Church  was  organized  May  26,  1852,  by 
the  following  elders:  Moses  Rowley,  of  Sun  Prairie; 
Joseph  Bowman,  of  Perry;  Peter  Conrad,  of  Baraboo; 
and  Charles  Perry,  of  Springfield.  Pastors,  in  their 
order,  have  been,  Joseph  Bowman,  0.  0.  Stearns,  H.  C. 
Fuller,  and  X.  E.  Chapin,  who  is  at  present  pastor. 
This  church  worshipped  in  a  school  house  till  1867.  In 
1866,  they  built  their  present  house  of  worship,  at  a 
cost  of  over  §1,000  and  dedicated  it  March  13,  186T. 
Its  deacons,  in  their  order,  have  been  Peter  YanNess, 
Alpheus  King,  William  Grow  and  Freedom  Simons. 
When  formed,  this  church  numbered  seventeen  mem- 
bers.    It  now  numbers  nearly  one  hundred. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  by  Rev. 
John  N.  Lewis,  June  20,  1852.  The  corporate  members 
were  James  0.  Eaton,  Mary  M.  Eaton,  Augustus  P. 
Smith,  Ann  Eliza  Smith,  Robert  Mann,  Harriet  N. 
Mann,  Esther  S.  Lewis,  Eliza  Steele,  Sophia  Partridge 
and  Sarah  Strangeway  —  ten.  Its  ministers  have  been 
Rev.  John  N.  Lewis,  stated  supply  1852-1857;  Rev.  B. 
G.  Riley,  stated  supply  -1857-1863;  Rev.  D.  A.  Bassett, 
1863-1866;  Rev.  Warren  Mayo,  pastor  1866-1872;  Rev. 
J.  W.  Knott.,  pastor  1872,  and  present  pastor.  Church 
edifice  built  in  1857-1871,  at  a  cost  of  §5,000.  Present 
number  of  members,  two  hundred  and  forty-nine. 

A   Universalist  Church   was  enclosed  in   1871,   but 


CIS  TOWNS    ADJACENT LODI. 

has  not  been  completed.     There  is  also  a  small  Cat/to//',' 
Church  on  section  1. 

Schools.  —  The  first  school  was  taught  in  a  house 
erected  in  1846,  on  section  27.  The  building  was  a  small 
log  house;  the  school  opened  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  and 
was  taught  by  Miss  Mary  Yockey.  The  next  school 
house  was  a  frame  building  erected  in  1851,  also  on  sec- 
tion 27.  After  this  time  the  ordinary  common  school 
of  the  state  was  organized  in  different  districts  through- 
out the  town  and  served  the  people  till  the  year  1857. 
In  this  year  five  districts,  in  and  about  the  village,. were 
consolidated,  and  a  graded  school  established  therefrom. 
A  large  and  commodious  brick  building  was  erected 
therefor  on  one  of  the  most  commanding  sites  in  the 
village,  at  a  cost  of  $10,000;  James  McCloud,  contractor. 
The  first  principal  of  said  school,  was  A.  Gr.  Riley;  sec- 
ond, L.  B.  Everdell;  third,  J.  C.  Yocum;  fourth,  A.  A. 
Miller;  sixth,  the  present  principal,  W.  E.  Todd. 

This  school  has  been,  and  still  is,  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition. It  is  maintained  at  an  annual  expense  of  about 
$3,000. 

The  population  of  the  town,  at  the  last  census,  was 
1.418. 

Nearly  all  the  people  residing  out  of  the  village,  and 
some  within  it,  are  engaged  in  farming.  They  are 
mostly  American  born.  The  adopted  citizens  are  of 
almost  all  nationalities. 

The  buildings  of  the  village  are  mostly  of  wood;  a 
few  are  built  of  stone  and  some  of  brick.  By  far  the  most 
substantial  and  noticeable  business  structure  is  Eaton's 
block,  which  is  built  of  stone,  and  towers  above  all.  It 
is  a  fit  testimonial  of  the  enterprise  of  its  projector  and 
of  his  interest  and  confidence  in  the  town  to  which  he 
has  given  the  best  energies  of  his  life. 

With  a  first  class  water  power,  with  a  railroad  and 


TOWNS  ADJACENT LODI.  G49 

market,  with  a  population  intelligent,  enterprising  and 
moral  —  as  shown  by  its  buildings,  its  schools  and  its 
churches  —  and  surrounded  by  such  a  country,  what 
shall  hinder  Lodi  from  making  progress  in  the  future 
equal  to  that  made  in  the  past? 

The  writer  of  this  chapter  is  under  great  obligations 
for  the  information  contained  in  it  to  Hon.  G.  M.  Bar- 
tholomew, Hon.  I.  H.  Palmer,  J.  0.  Eaton,  R.  Lindsay, 
Esq.,  James  McCloud,  W.  M.  Bartholomew,  Freedom 
Simons  and  Rev.  J.  W.  Knott. 

Secret  Societies. — Lodi  Valley  Lodge,  iYo.  99,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons:  Jonas  Narracong,  W.  M.;  J.  E. 
Parke,  S.  W.;  W.  L.  Wells,  J.  W.;  J.  S.  Gardner,  S.D.; 
W.  D.  Pratt,  J.  D.;  A.  Eaton,  Treasurer;  J.  M.  Pniyn, 
Secretary;  J.  E.  Mandeville,  Tyler. 

Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  272,  /.  0.  G.  T:  M.  M.  Mit- 
chell, W.C.T.;  Flora  L.  Dean,W.V.T.;  Wm.  Slightam, 
P.  W.  C.T.;  Rev.  J.  W.  Knott,  W.  C;  Mary  L.  Tabor, 
R.S.;  Ida  Merry  man,  A.R.S;  W.  E.  Collins,  F.  S.;  Ida 
Kimball,  W.T.;  Wilber  Blake,  W.M.;  Ella  Bartholo- 
mew, D.M.;  Harry  Irwin, W.G.;  Albert  Patterson, W.S,; 
Susie  Ayer,  R.  H.  S.;  Emma  Rathbun,  L.H.  S.;  W.  M. 
Dunlap,  L.D. 

Temple  of  Honor :  J.  M.  Pruyn,W.C.T.;  John  Foote, 
W.V.T.;  G.  W.  Fenno,W.R.;  Chas.  Goodall,  F.R.;  W. 
M.  Bartholomew,  W.  T.;  G.  M.  Bartholomew,  W.  U.; 
William  Dunlap  D.U.;  Peter  Richards,  W.G.;  E.  Knute- 
sen,  W.S.;  L.  F.  Wanner,  D.S;  L.  E.  Harris,  P.W.C.T. 


650         TOWNS  ADJACENT  —  EDGEKTON. 


EDGERTOK 

BY  E.  A.   BUHBTCK,  Esq. 

The  village  of  Edgerton  is  located  on  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway,  71  miles  west  from  Mil- 
waukee, li  miles  from  Rock  river,  26  -miles  east  of  Mad- 
ison, and  one  mile  south  of  the  south  line  of  Daue 
county,  in  Town  1,  Range  12,  on  the  corners  of  sections 
3  and  4  and  9  and  10.  The  town  site  was  laid  out  in  the 
summer  of  1853,  by  Adin  Burdick  and  L.H.Page.  The 
same  season  H.  S.  Swift  and  Dr.  C.  R.  Head  also  became 
interested  in  the  town  site.  The  depot  was  built  the 
same  season  near  the  spot  where  the  railroad  crossed  the 
Indian  trail  leading  from  old  Fort  Winnebago  via  Kosh- 
konoug  lake  to  Chicago,  traces  of  which  can  now  be 
seen  near  here.  The  first  store  was  opened  by  P.  F. 
Davis,  who  was  soon  followed  by  others,  among  whom 
were  Stiles  Hakes,  H.  H.  Coleman,  Charles  Clark,  S.  S. 
Williams,  H.  S.  Swift,  C.  C.  Root  and  others.  A  post- 
office  was  established  in  the  fall,  with  0.  D.  Peck  as  P.  M. 

The  first  freight  shipped  here  by  railroad  was  on  No- 
vember 25th,  1853.  From  this  date,  both  freight  and 
passenger  traffic  by  railroad  has  been  good  and  con- 
stantly increasing.  For  the  past  ten  or  twelve  .years 
large  amounts  of  leaf  tobacco  have  been  shipped  from 
this  station,  this  being  the  head  of  the  tobacco  growing 
region  of  Wisconsin;  in  fact  more  of  this  commodity  has 
been  bought  and  shipped  from  here  than  from  all  other 
points  in  the  state  combined.  The  average  amount  for 
several  years  past  lias  been  something  over  ten  thousand 
cases  per  year,  requiring  from  two  to  five  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  each  year  to  handle  the  crop  thus  market- 
ed.    This,  together  with  the  usual  products  of  an  ex- 


TOWNS   ADJACENT EDGERTON.  651 

tensive  and  rich  farming  country,  finds  a  good  market 
here,  and  gives  this  place  a  high  position  among  the 
inland  business  towns  of  Wisconsin.  We  have  six 
large  tobacco  warehouses,  which  are  receiving  and  hand- 
ling the  article  daily,  frequently  employing  quite  an 
army  of  laborers  at  remunerative  wages. 

For  grain  we  have  two  elevators,  besides  several  small 
warehouses,  and  quite  an  extensive  business  in  the  live 
stock  trade.  The  amount  bought  and  shipped  from 
here  will  compare  favorably  with  many  larger  towns. 

Our  beople  believe  in  liberal  education,  and  we  have 
a  splendid  graded  school,  managed  by  an  able  and  com- 
petent board,  who  have  spared  no  pains  to  obtain  thor- 
ough and  experienced  teachers,  who  are  doing  a  great 
and  good  work  for  the  coming  generation. 

The  best  interests  of  the  people  hereabouts,  and  the 
tobacco  interest  in  particular,  are  carefully  watched  and 
championed  by  the  "  Wisconsin  Tobacco  Reporter,"  a 
newspaper  started  here  some  three  years  ago  by  W.  F. 
Tousley,  which  is  well  patronized  by  the  public  in  this 
vicinity,  as  its  long  list  of  subscribers  fully  attests.  Its 
present  circulation  is  nearly  six  hundred.  Great  pains 
is  taken  by  the  proprietor  to  give  all  market  reports 
relating  to  tobacco  throughout  the  United  States,  and 
Wisconsin  in  particular. 

Business  Directory. — Hotels:  American  House,  W. 
Clatworthy;  United  States,  H.  H.  Dickinson.  Pysicians 
and  Surgeons:  B.  Burdick,  H.  H.  Judd,  S.L.  Lord.  'At- 
torney: J.  P.  Towne.  Carpenters:  J.  Grazlay,  T.  War- 
ren. Tobacco  dealers:  W.  P.  Bentley,  W.W.  and  H.W. 
Child,  N.  Taylor,  Rowe  &  Taylor,  T.  Hutson,  E.  H. 
Wheeler,  Andrew  Jensen.  Hard/rare:  J.  D.  Hain,  G.W 
Howard.  Blacksmiths:  J.  Walter,  Hal ver  0.  Lintvedt, 
Burdick  &  Co.,  D.  B.  Springer,  D.  Green.  Drags  and, 
merchandise:  Dr.  Stillman,  J.  Copley,  J.  C.  Croft  &  Co. 


(353  TOWNS    ADJACENT EDGERTON. 

Crockery  and  merchandise:  Mary  Riley.  Lumber:  J.  I. 
Lnsk,  R.  R.  Brown.  Insurance:  Geo.  B.  Leonard,  E.  C. 
Hopkins.  Merchant  Tailor:  J.  Mcintosh.  Furniture: 
W.  H.  Clark.  Livery:  C.  L.  Brown,  S.  C.  Humphrey, 
N.  Taylor,  H.  H.  Dickinson.  Wagons  caul  Carriages: 
T.  L.  Stillman,  Nelson  Loe.  Burdick  &  Co.,  Halver  0. 
Lintvedt.  Dressmaking:  Mrs.  J.  A.  Johnson.  Mil- 
linery: Wilson  &  Taylor.  Dry  Goods,  Clothing  ami 
merchandise:  E.  W.  Babcock,  Mabbett  &  Perry,  Jas. 
Croft.  Boot  and  Shoemakers:  Jacob  Johnson,  P.  0. 
Burdick.  Barber:  J.  Johnson.  Harness:  J.  A.  Heri- 
tage. Butchers:  Cordner  &  Attlesej^.  Watchmaker: 
John  Spencer.  Baker g :  J.N.  Moulthrop.  Stock  deah  r: 
P.  B.  Huntington.  Feed  and  Flour:  J.  McChesney. 
Fulton  Flour  Mills:  White  Bros. 

Churches. — Methodist  Episcopal,  Rev.  W.  D.  Ames, 
pastor.  Episcopal  Church,  Rev.  H.  Green,  pastor.  Prim- 
itive Methodist,  Rev.  C  Hendra,  pastor.  German  Lu- 
theran, Rev.  John  Koerner,  pastor.  St.  Joseph  Catholic 
Church,  Rev.  Father  C.  T.  Deviue. 

Secret  Societies. — A.  F.  and  A.  M.;  regular  com- 
munications of  Fulton  Lodge,  No.  69,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  meet  in  Masonic  Hall;  C.  H.  Dickinson,  W.M., 
G.  W.  Price,  Sec'y.  1. 0.  0.  F.— Edgerton  Lodge,  No. 
133,  meet  in  their  hall  over  Methodist  church;  Byron 
Long,  N.G.,  G.W.  Price,  R.S.  I.O.G.T.— Edgerton  Un- 
ion Lodge,  No.  145,  meet  in  Croft's  Hall;  W.  D.  Ames, 
W.C.T.,  II.  H.  Judd,  W.R.S.  P.  of  H.— Fulton  Grange, 
No.  195,  meet  at  Croft's  Hall;  R.  T.  Powell,  Master,  W. 
P.  Bentley,  Sec'y.  T.  of  H.  and  T.— Guiding  Star  Tem- 
ple, No.  109,  meets  at  Croft's  Hall;  H.  H.  Judd,W.C.T., 
H.  R.  Gwalter,  W.R. 

E.  A.  Burdick,  merchant  and  postmaster. 

W.  F.  Tousley,  editor  and  proprietor  Edgerton  To- 
bacco Reporter 


COUNTY    OFFICERS. 


DANE  COUNTY  OFFICERS. 

1839  to  1877. 


In  pursuance  of  an  act  entitled  "An  act  to  organize  the  counties  of  Dane 
and  Fond  du  Lac,"  approved  Mar.  11,  18:39,  an  election  was  held  at  the  Amer- 
ican Hotel,  Madison,  on  the  first  Monday  of  May,  1839,  and  the  following  offi- 
cers elected  for  Dane  county: 

Hoard  of  Commissioners. 
1839-40.  Eben  Peck,  chairman,  Simeon  Mills,  Jeremiah  Lycan,  commis- 
sioners; La  Fayette  Kellogg,  clerk  (resigned,  R.  L  Ream  appointed);  John 
Stoner,  treasurer;  Robert  L.  Ream,  register  of  deeds;  George  P.  Dela- 
phiine,  county  surveyor  (resigned,  ffm.N.  Seymour,  appointed):  Win.  A. 
wheeler,  assessor;  N.T.  Parkinson,  sheriff;  John  Catlin,  district  attorney ; 
David  Hyer  coroner;  Isaac  Atwdod,  public  administrator;  John  T.  Wil- 
son, auctioneer;  Adam  Smith,  constable. 
August  7,  1839-40.  Adam  Smith,  collector;  Mahlan  Blaker  (resigned, 
La  Fayette  Kellogg  appointed),  Wm.  N.  Seymour,  George  Vroman,  assess- 
ors; Ed  Campbell,  school  inspector;  Wm.  N.  Seymour,  district  surveyor; 
Abel  Rasdall,  constable. 
October  5,  1840-41.  Simeon  Mills,  chairman,  Ehen  Peck,  Prescott  Brig- 
ham,  commissioners;  R.  L.  Ream,  clerk;  I.  11.  Palmer,  treasurer;  II.  F. 
Grossman,  collector  (to  fill  vacancy  by  resignation  of  A.  Smith);  E.  M. 
Williamson,  II.  W.  Porter,  David  ilyer,  assessors;  A.  Rasdall,  constable. 
January  3,  184'i.  Prescott  Brigham,  chairman,  Horace  W.  Potter,  P.  W. 
Malts,  commissioners;  E.  M.Williamson,  clerk;  Erastus  Quivey,  treas- 
urer; Ira  W.  Bird,  register  of  deeds;  Calvin  Frink,  collector;  Wm.  A. 
Webb  (resigned,  George  P.  Detaplaine  appointed),  Volney  Moore,  Nathan 
Kellogg,  asSes-ors;  T.  M.  Wilcox,  county  surveyor  (resigned.  E.  M.  Wil- 
liamson appointed);  A.  A.  Bird,  sheriff;  H.  C.  Parker,  constable  (app'd). 

1843.  Wm.  D.  Daggett,  chairman,  Wm,  A.  Wheeler,  Solomon  Shafer,  com- 
missioners; E.M.  Williamson,  clerk;  Erastus  Quivey,  treasurer  (resigned, 
Darwin  Clark  appointed);  Ira  W.  Bird,  register  of  deeds;  A.  A.  Bird,  sher- 
iff; Calvin  Frink,  collector;  Alex.  L.  Collins,  district  attorney. 

1844.  W.  A.Wheeler,  chairman,  A.W.  Dickinson,W.  II.  HubTmrd  (resigned, 
B.  F.  Collins  appointed):  S.  ratlin,  clerk;  P. W.  Matts.  treasurer;  Jas.  Sul- 
livan, assessor;  E.  M.  Williamson,  surveyor;  Geo.  P.  Dclaplaiue,  collect- 
or; I.  W.  Bird,  register  of  deeds;  A.  A.  Bird,  sheriff;  A.  L.  Collins,  dis- 
trict attorney;  Andriis  Vial]  and  J.  E.  Abbott,  constables. 

184.%.  E.  Brigham.  chairman.  L.  S.  Augur,  Wm.  A.  Webb,  commissioners; 
E.  M.  Williamson,  clerk;  P.  W.  Matts.  treasurer;  E.  Burdick,  county  sur- 
veyor; G.T.  Long,  register  of  deeds;  l.W.  Bird,  sheriff;  T.  Daily,  W.  Ras- 
dall, J.  W.  Thomas,  assYs;  C.  Abbott,  dist.  att'y;  A.  B.  Catlin,  collector. 

January  5.  1840.  Wm.  A.  Wheeler,  chairman,  J.  R.  Larkin,  L.  Stone, 
commissioners;  E.  Burdick,  clerk  (appointed  in  place  of  E,  M.  William- 
son, resigned);  M.  S.  Van  Bergen,  treasurer;  J.  a.  Knapp.  register  of 
deeds;  E.  M.  Williamson,  county  surveyor;  G  B.  Smith,  district  attorney; 
G. Vroman,  J.  Meyers,  assessors;  R.G.  Carpenter,  In. II.  Smith,  constables. 

The  Board  of  Commissioners  having  been  changed  by  law  to  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  represented  by  the  chairman  from  each  town  in  the  county,  the 
first  session  of  said  board  was  held  on  Monday,  the  14th  day  of  September, 
1846,  when  the  following  gentleman  appeared  as  members: 

Hoard  of  Supervisors. 
1840-47.    Wm.   C.  Wells,  chairman,  Ed.  Campbell,  Jas.    R.    Larkin,  S. 

Head,  A.  Barlow,  J.  Lawrence,  R.  Boyce  (Wm.  Quivey  acted  as  substitute 

for  Mr.  Boyce,  during  his  sickness,  until  January  4,  1847). 
1847-48.    W.  C.  Wells,  chairman,  H.  L.  Bush,  W.  II.  H.  Coon  (deputy  for 

Wm.  Mayhew  till  January  3,  1848),  R.  Warden,  L.  Faruum,  D.  M.  Holt,  R, 


P>~K  DANE    COUNTY    OFFICERS. 

Boyce,  D.  Tipple,  W.  A.  Pierco,  R.  Atwood,  C.  M.  Nichols,  J.  Yroman.  J. 
Sander.-,  W.  M.  Mayhew,  W.  Boyce. 
1848— 1!).  Geo.  Anderson,  chairman,  C.  Maxon,  W.  W.  Patrick,  E.  Brig- 
ham,  A.  Keyes,  P..  Hancy,  A.  Harris,  G.  C.  Cowen,  1).  C.  Miller,  R.  P. 
Pawson  (resigned,  O.  B.  Moore  elected),  J.  Vronian,  W.  C.  Wells,  0.  Linn, 
T.  F.Whittlesey,  J.  Webb,  A.  Salsbury,  l>.  Wheeler,  J.  Lawrence,  S.  R. 
Ayer*,  J.  M.  Babcock,  (deceased,  P.  Rider  appointed);  31.  Nosh,  S.  Taylor, 

C.  Si.  Nichols,  lj.  B.  Freeman, 

lS4tf-50.  Berry  llaney,  chairman,  J.  J.  Clark,  Wm.  H.  Clark,  E.  Brigham, 
Chas.  Drakeley,  Geo.  0    Babcock,  O.  B.  Moore,  S.R.Ayres,  L.  S.  Argur,  J. 

M.  iUatts,  A.  Salsbury,  J.  Lawrence.  B.  Fairchild,  U.  Cody,  Win.  Barrus, 
A.  A.  Boyce,  N.  P.  Spaulding,  M.  Mai  lory,  W.  Brown,  D.  Thomas,  G.  E. 
Cowen  (resigned,  J.  Blake  appointed),  R.  Brown,  A.  E.  Adsitt,  J.  Nelson, 
William  C.  Pood,  O.  Cook,  I).  Wheeler,  <J.  Harlow,  Charles  Bird. 
18X0-51.  Wm.  M.  Colladay,  chairman,  I.  S.  Brown,  J.  Bowman,  G.  D. 
Neal  (resigned,  D.  M.  Stillman  appointed),  J.T.Lewis  (substitute  for 
N.  H.  Dryden  during  his  sickness;,  W.  W.  Patrick,  R.  Brown,  M.  S.  Fos- 
ter. J.  W.  Thomas,  C*.  O.  Babcock.  H.  L.  Foster,  S.  Oziah,  C.  Reeves,  H. 
W.  Yager,  VV.  N.  Scvmour.  L.  Parmer,  C.  Lnm,  J.  M.  Matts  (resigned,  N. 
J.  Tompkins  appointed).  Wm.  Dudley,  J.  Phillips,  Z.  Gilbert,  T.  M.  War- 
ren, E.  Isham,  P.  Winston,  P.  Munger,  C.  Bird,  A.  A.  Bovce,  W.  Barrus, 
T.  P.  Hill,  N.  P.  Spaulding,  I).  E.  Emery. 

1851-52.  C.  Lum,  chairman,  A.  Bnrdick,  T.  Haney,  M.  Ripley,  J.  Bow- 
man, X.  J.  Tompkins,  C.  Reeve,  D.  Havidson,  H.  Van  Orman,  T.  Arland, 

D.  C.  Miller,  A.  E.  Adsit,  O.  B.  Moore,  J.  Glott,  3.  Keenan.  L.  J.  Farwell, 
(R.  T.  Davis  to  fill  vacancy),  W.  Gammon,  J.  W.  Thornton,  W.  Dudley, 
(J.  Devine  to  fill  vacancy),  II.  C.  Chandler,  Z.  Gilbert,  T.  M.  Warren,  E. 
Isham,  W.  Beardsley,  P.  N.  Ashmore,  A.Bailey,  A.Henry,  I.  Mann,  J. 
Collins,  E.  Grover,  D.  E.  Emery. 

1852-53.  E.  Isham,  chairman,  J.  H.  Potter,  R.  W.  Denison,  T.  Steele,  R. 
D.  Frost,  J.  Bowman,  J.  R.  Butler,  A.  E.  Adsit,  J.  Keenan,  J.  Webb,  W. 
Gammon,  I.  M.  Bennett,  H.  C.  Chandler,  J.  Bronte,  W.  Beardsley,  H. 
Childs,  C.  Flower,  W.  Barrus,  I.  Mann,  O.  M.  Cros-s.  J.  Collins,  D.  E.  Em- 
ery, A.  Smith,  R.  Brown,  H.  Van  Orman,  J.  Steele,  O.  E.  Mclntyre,  C.  Bar- 
nard, P.  Dunning  (Mr.  Warren  to  fill  vacancy),  II.  J.  Jackson,  R.Rich- 
ards, Mr.  Thompson. 

1853-54.  Calvin  Barnard,  chairman;  J.  J.  Clark,  Thomas  Barber,  Richard 
D.  Frost,  Thos.  Steele,  Daniel  Pickett,  John  Yroman,  Orien  B.  Hazeitine, 
Nathan  G.  Van  Horn,  W.  P.  Taylor,  Wm.  F.  Baker,  Jas.  Steele,  A.  E.  Adsir, 
Wm.  M.  Colladay,  John  Keenan,  J.  T.  Marston,  Sardine  Muzzy,  Elisha 
Bailey,  0.  II.  Miillctte,  C.  P.  Moselev,  D.  Wheeler,  J.  C,  B.  Richards,  E. 
Isham,  J.P.  McPherson,  G.O.  Babcock,  VV.  A.  Pierce.  A.  White,  D.K.  Butler, 
M.  Read,  0.  M.  Cross,  D.  E.  Emery,  J.  Mosher. 

1854-55.  Wm.  P.  Taylor,  chairman;  J.  M.  Wood,  Thos-.  Barber,  Levi  E. 
Thompson,  R.  D.  Frost,  E.  Brigham,  Daniel  Pickett,  E.  Grover,  Jr.,  G. 
Dow,  J.  Pead,  J.  Steele,  A.  E.  Adsit,  J.  Mosher,  Win.  M.  Colladay,  S.  W. 
Field,  J.  II.  Lewis,  L.  Hatch.  £.  Bailey,  0.  H.  Mullette,  C.  P.  Moseley,  B. 

F.  Denson,  Z.  Gilbert,  J.  Chandler,  C.  W.  Waterl. ry,  H.  Bigelow,  R.  Black- 
burn, Wm.  Beardsley,  C.  Flowers,  J.  Beath,  J.  Poyner,  J.  Collins,  J.  C. 
Pinney,  G.  Van  Gaasbeck. 

1855-56,  Wm.  M.  Colladav,  chairman;  E.  Sherman,  J.  W.  Ford.  L.  E. 
Thompson,  J.  R.  Hiestand,  T.  Steele,  Wm.  A.  Field,  N.  G.  Van  Horn,  II. 
Catlin.  J.  Pead.  A.  G.  Hadder,  L.  Knudson.  C.  Barnard,  S.  W.  Field,  H.  J. 
Hill,  M.  D.  Currier,  W.  Gammons.  O.  H.  Mullette,  I.  M.  Dennett,  B.  F. 
Denson,  J.  A.  Johnson,  J.  La  Follette,  C.  W.  Waterbury,  S.  W.  Graves, 
A.  Malone,  Geo.  Johnson,  B.  T.  Cameron,  J.  Beath,  J.  Poyner,L.  Ryan,  E. 
Combs,  G.  II.  Van  Gaasbeck,  E.  Grover.  Jr.,  O.  M.  Palmer. 

1850-57.  W.M.  Colladay,  chairman,  E.  Sherman,  C.  Laughlin,  J.  B.  Sweat, 
J.P.  Hiestand,  T.  Steele',W.A.  Fields,  D.tS.  Crandall,  A.  Norman,  J.  Bryan, 
A.  G.  Hadder,  A.  E.  Adsit,  J.Allen,  S.  Nve,  II.  J.  Hill,  A.  E.  Brooks,  N.  B. 
Van  Slvke.  A.  S.  Wood,  S.  M.  Van  Bergen,  II.  S.  Clark,  W.  Gammons,  P. 
W.  Mat'ts,  E.  W.  Dwight,  A.  Sanderson,  J.  L.  Lewis,  Z.  Gilbert,  I.  M.War- 
ren, S.  W.  Craves.  J.  P.  McPherson,  W.  Beardsley,  C.  Bailey,  J  Caldwell, 
S.  B.  Coryell,  M.  0"Malley,  J.  W.  Helden,  A.  A.  Huntington,  C.  G.  Lewis, 

G.  Bjornson,  II,  Jones. 


DANE    COUNTY    OFFICERS.  657 

1S57-58.  P.  W.  Matts,  chairman,  G.  W.  McDougal,  Chas.  Laughlin,  S.  H. 
Vcdder,  R.  D.  Frost,  T.  Steele,  W.  A.  Field,  C.  G.  Lewis,  I.  Brown,  W.  R. 
Taylor,  J.  Bryan,  W.  J.  Welch,  W.  H.  Miller,  E.  H.  Lacy,  O.  B.  Moore.  J. 
Keenan,  II.  J.  Hill,  A.  E.  Brooks,  N.  B.  Van  Slyke,  C.  G.  Mayers,  S.  M. 
Van  Bergen,  C.  Lum,E.  Bailey,  R.  Boyce,  B.  F.  Denson,  J.  Chandler,  J.  A. 
Johnson^  J.  Pauly,  S.  Axtell,  J.  P.  McPherson,  Win.  lieardsley,  L.  H.  Pear- 
sons, J.  H.  Steele,  W.  D.  Stanley,  J.  Beath,  J.  Kershaw,  J.  W.  Helden,  A. 

A.  Huntington,  H.  M.  Warner. 

1858-59.  J.  Beath,  chairman,  G.  W.  McDougai,  C.  Laughlin,  J.  Greening, 
R.  S.  Frost,  E.  Dale,  W.  A.  Field,  C.  G.  Lewis,  N.  G.  Van  Horn,  W.  R. 
Taylor,  J.  M.  Hawley,  R.  Bower,  W.  H.  Miller,  E.  E.  Roberts,  O.  E.McIn- 
tire,  J.  Keenan,  W.  D.  Bird,  T.  Heerau,  D.  J.  Powers  (resigned,  E.  S.  Oak- 
ley appointed),  J.  G.  Critliu.  T.  Kenney,  C.  Lam,  J.  B.  Colton,  P.  W. 
Matts-,  M.  Wolf,  B.  F.  Denson,  N.  Randall,  J.  A.  Johnson,  S.  W.  Graves, 
C.  W.  Waterbury,  O.  B.  Hazeltine,  J.  P.  McPhorson,  J.  Wiessenborn,  L.  H. 
Pearsons,  J.C.  Steele,  D.K.  Brittou,  C.H.  Arnold,  S.H.  Sabine,  A.  Sawyer. 

1859-60.  A.  M.  Hanchett,  chairman,  G.  F.  Lawton,  O.  Kerl,  W.  A.  Webb, 
S.  F.  Lighthizier,  5T.  H.  Drvden,  E.  Crowell,  E.  Grover.  Jr.,  J.  T.  CrandaU, 
E.  E.  Emerson,  J.  Bf.  Haiie'y,  W.  Dunlap.  A.  E.  Adsit,  E.  E.  Roberts,  A.  L. 
Beebe,  J.  E.  Mann,  T.  Reynolds,  A.  Sherwin.  E.  S.  Oakley,  1>.  Clark,  C. 
Fairchild,  L.  A.  Lincoln,  J.  B.  Colton,  P.  W.  Matts,  M.  Colby,  O.  B.  Daley, 
H.  M.  La  Follette.  T.  B.  Ames,  C.  E.  Loveland,  F.  Ritchie,  R.  Blackburn, 
R.  Ford,  C.  Flowers,  G.  Beatty,  J.  Beath,  H.  Cramer,  W.  Keel'e,  A.  H.  Pin- 
ney,  A.  Sawyer. 

1860-61.  T.  Reynolds,  chairman,  L.  O.  Humphrey,  J.  W.  Ford,  H.  M. 
Warner,  S.  F.  Lighthizier,  E.  Dale,  Mr.  Adams,  Mr.  Lewis,  W.  D.  Potter, 

C.  Drakeley,  J.  Haney,  W.  Dunlap,  L.  Torgerson,  B.  Barnard,  A.  L.  Beebe, 
J.  Keenan,"  Mr.   Zehnpfenning,  J.  Byer,  J.  Byrne,  Mr.  Stickney  (O.  Park 

ubstitute  during  sickness  of  Mr.  Sticknev),  A.  M.  Hanchett,  E.  Bailey,  J. 
M.  Matts,  E.  W.  Dwight,  Mr.  Sanderson,  G.  Tollefsou,  F.  B.  Ames,  S.  W. 
Graves,  F.  Ritchie,  H.  Stevens,  S.  T.  F.  Ward,  C.  Flower,  G.  Beatty,  W. 
Carlton.  H.  Cramer,  J  Tiernes,  I.  N.  DeForest,  L.  G.  Shephard,  J.  M. 
Gile,  F.  C.  Festner. 
1861-62.  J.  P.  McPherson,  chairman,  L.  O.  Humphrey,  J.  Bunnagel,  O.  B. 
Hazeltine.  J.  L.  Davison,  T.  Haney,  R.  W.  Davison,  A.  D.  Goodrich,  D. 

B.  Crandall,  W.  R.  Taylor,  T.  Murphy,  A.  J.  Luce,  L.  Torgerson,  H.  H. 
Giles  (resigned:  W.  M.  Key  appointed),  \V.  M.  Colladav,  J.  Keenan,  H.  A. 
Tenney,  F.  O'Bryan,  J.  W  Sumner,  D.  Clark,  T.  Kinney,  G.  T.  Whitney, 
E.  Bailev,  P.  W.  Malts,  J.  D.  Tipple,  J.  Jones,  G.  Bjornson,  W.  Chandler, 
Z.  Gilbert,  11.  A.  Colburn,  P.Ritchie,  R.Ford,  C.  Flower,  G  Beatty,  W. 
Charletou  (resigned,  J.  Heath  appointed),  H.  Cramer.  H.  J.  Benson,  I.  N. 
DeForest  (.resigned,  J  M.  Miller  appointed),  W.  H.  Slater,  Mr.  McBride. 

The  Board  having  met  under  the  law  providing  for  the  government  of  the 
county  by  district  representation,  the  following  gentlemen  appeared  on  the 
13th  day  of  January,  1862,  and  took  their  seats: 

District  Hejtrcscn tn ti res. 

1862-63.    1st  district,  W.  M.  Colladav:  2d,  J.  Douglas;  3d,  Otto  Kerl;  4th, 

E.Dale;  5th,  P.  H.  Turner.     Mr.  Colladav,  chairman. 
1864-65.    1st  district,  F.  B.  Ames ;  2d.  J.  E.  Hidden ;  3d,  Otto  Kerl ;  4th,  M. 

Colbv:  5th.  H.  J.  Hill.    Mr.  Colby,  chairman. 
1866-67.    1st  district,  F.  B.  Ames;  2d.  O.  W.  Thornton:  3d,  Mansfield  Ar- 

ries;  4th,  M.  Colby;  SthNeely  Gray,  (deceased,  Timothy  Brown  appointed', 

Mr.  Ames,  chairman. 

1867.  1st  district,  F.  B.  Ames;  2d,  O.  W.  Thornton;  3d,  D.  Schafcr;  4tb, 
M.  Colbv;  5th,  Timothy  Brown.    Mr.  Ames,  chairman. 

1868.  ls"t  district,  F.  B'  Ames;  2d,  O.  W.  Thornton;  3d,  D.  Schafer;  4th, 

D.  L.  Dalev:  5th,  Timothv  Brown.     Mr.  Ames,  chairman. 

1869      1st  district.  W.  M.  Colladav:  2d,  O.  W.Thornton;  3d,M.  Arries;  4th, 

D.  L.  Daley  (resigned,  W.  C.  B.  Weltzin  substituted);  5th,  H.  J.  Hill.    Mr. 

Thornton,  "chairanam. 
1870,  ending  March  24th.    1st  district,  W.  M.  Colladav;  2d,  H.  D.  Good 

now;  3d,  O.  B.  Hazeltine;  4th  L.  M.  Anderson ;  5th,  H.  J.  Hill.    Mr.  Hill, 

chairman. 
42 


658  DANE    COUNTY    OFFICERS. 

1870-71.  Commencing  May  23d,  when  Board  met  under  the  township 
system  of  representatives,  and  the  following  chairmen  of  towns  and  repre- 
sentatives from  the  wards  of  Madison,  took  their  seats: 

County  Supervisors  by  Xowhs  and  City  Wards. 

J.  P.  McPherson,  chairman,  L.  O.  Humphrey,  J.C.  Fischer,  J.  Adams,  R.  D. 
Frost,  J.  Mitchell,  R.  1>.  Freeman,  8.  Ll.  Hall,  J.  E.  Johnson,  T.  Black,  T. 
Murphy,  II.  11.  Brereton,  K.  O.  Heimdall,  W.  H.  Watson,  W.T.  McConnell, 
W.  D.  Bird,  H.  J.  Hill,  T.  C  Bourke,W.  T.  Leitch,  J.M.  Bowman,  C.G.  Ma- 
yers, S.  Moulton,\V.lI.  Porter,  E.  Bailey,  J.  Lyle,  J.S.  Jackson,  L.M.  Ander- 
son, S.  Halland  (resg'd,  Mr.  Glenhus  appt'd),  W.  Seamonson,  J.  Br'osmer, 
C.  E.  Loveland,  W.  Beardsley,  F.  Allen,  C.  Pond,  W.  H.  Chandler,  J.  Ollis, 
J.  H.  Steaman,  G.  Beatty,  VV.  Woodward,  E.A.  Spencer,  J.  Phillips. 

1871-72.  W.  H.  Chandler,  chairman;  O.  S.  Head,  H.  Keller,  J.  McKenzie, 
A.  Morton,  O.  Hanson,  1.  W.  Ilaner,  S.  U.  Hall,  VV.  B.  West,  W.  R.  Tay- 
lor, T.  Murphy,  H.  H.  Brereton,  A.  E.  Adsit,  R.  S.  Allen,  O.  B.  Moore,  J. 
Travis,  E.  E.  Bryant,  T.  C.  Bourke,  C.  H.  Billings,  A.  llerfiirth,  J.  Miller, 
S.  Moulton,  VV.  II.  Porter,  W.  Ankitell,  J.  W.  JN'orton,  P.  Baldwin,  L.  M. 
Anderson,  W.  C.  B.  Weltzin,  VV.  Seamonsou,  J.  Brosmer,  S.  Divali,  J.  P. 
McPherson,  N.  Martin,  J.  Norris,  C.  Pond,  J.  Ollis,  J.  Stewart,  S.  Cald- 
well, J.  H.  Tierney,  E.  A.  Spencer,  G.  Weeks. 

1872-73.  E.  A.  Spencer,  chairman;  W.  Short,  F.  Schuman,  J.  McKenzie, 
S.  F.  Lighthizier,  O.  Hanson,  A.  Chipman,  T.  ,S.  Phillips,  J  E.  Johnson, 
W.  R.  Taylor,  R.  Burns,  O.  Chipman,  P.  B.  Grinde,  G.  B.  Moore,  R.  S.  Al- 
len, Abel  Dunning,  P.  Barry,  M.  B.French,  C.  H.  Billings,  11.  Christof- 
fers,  L.  D.  Stone,  S.  Moulton  (resigned,  Mr.  Clifford  appointed),  W.  H. 
Porter,  VV.  Gammon,  J.  Seeley,  P.  Baldwin,  L.  M.  Anderson,  VV.  C.  B. 
Weltzin,  W.  Seamonson,  M.  Tlieisen,  M.Johnson,  N.  Martin,  J.  Norris.  C. 
Pond,  J.  Gibbons,  J.  Ollis,  J.  Stewart,  S.  Caldwell,  J.  H.  Tierney,  J.  John- 
son, S.  Divali. 

1873-74.  W.  R.  Taylor,  chairman  (resigned,  P.  Baldwin  elected);  G.  B. 
Huntington,  F.  Schuman,  J.  McKenzie,  D.  Bechtel,  O.  Hanson,  J.  M.  Han- 
er,  A.  Smith,  S.  H.  Butler,  P.  Zander,  R.  Steele,  P.  B.  Grinde,  J.  Allen,  W. 
T.  McConnell,  P.  Barry,  G.  C.  Russell,  B.  M.  Minch,  J.  Rodermuud,  J.  G. 
Ott,  L.  D.  Stone,  G.  F.  Clifford,  J.  Hart,  W.  Gammons,  J.  Seeley,  P.  Bald- 
win, L.  M.  Anderson,  C.  Dixon  (resigned,  Mr.  Seamonson  appointed),  G. 
T.  Mandt,  M.  Theisen,  S.  Tusler,  M.Johnson  (resigned,  Mr.  Maloue  ap- 
pointed,) N.  Martin,  R.  S.  Allen,  F.  L.  Warner,  W.  H.  Augell,  J.  Ollis,  H. 
H.  Cornwell,  S.  J.  Caldwell,  J.  H.  Tierney,  W.  Blanchard,  J.  Phillips. 

1871-73.  G.  C.  Russell,  chairman;  J.  H.  Palmiter,  W.  Stunipf,  W.  Man- 
waring,  D.  Betchel,  O.  Hanson,  A.  Chipman.  A.  Smith,  J.  E.  Johnson,  I. 
Adams,  P.  Zander,  T.  Leitch.  P.  B.  Grinde,  W.  II.  Watson,  W.  Lalor,  J. 
Travis,  Thos.  C.  Bourke,  George  A.  Mason,  John  Geo.  Ott,  L.  D.  Stone, 
L.  Clark,  VV.  H.  Porter,  W.  Gammons  (resigned,  E.  Bailey  appointed).  J. 
Lyle,  P.Baldwin,  L.M.  Anderson,  E.  Pederson,  W  Seamonson,  P.  M. 
Fabing  (resigned,  M.  Theison  appointed)  S.  Tusler,  M.  Johnson,  D.  Ford 
F.  Allen,  W.  H.  skitter,  W.  H.  Angell,  K.J.  Poyner,  J.  Stewart,  O.  M.  Hei- 
land  tresig'd,  Mr.  Blake  appointed),  J.H.  Tierney,  D.  Crowley,  J.  Phillip. 

1873-76.  G.  C.  Russell,  chairman:  J.  H.  Palmiter,  W.  Stumpf,  W.  Man- 
warring,  D.  Bechtel,  O.  Hanson,  J.  E.  Hidden,  F.  Ritchie,  S.  E.  Billsted, 

C.  Drakelev,  H.  J.  Boiling,  T.  Leitch,  P.  B.  Grinde,  J.  E.  Wright,  J.  Samp- 
son, J.  McWilliams,  William  Tallender,  John  N.  Jones,  Stephen  D.  Car- 
penter, A.  Sexton,  L.  Clark,  W.  II.  Porter  (W.  Knapton,  substitute)  F. 
Elvei,  J.  Lyle,  P.  Baldwin,  L.  M.  Anderson,  W.  C.  B.  Weltzin,  A.  B.  De- 
voe,  P.  M  Fabing,  C.  E.  Loveland,  M.  Johnson,  D.  Ford,  J.  Norris,  T.  C. 
Hayden.  C.  G.  Cross,  R.  J.  Poyner,  J.  Stewart,  A.  B.  Elbe,  J.  H.  Tierney 

D.  Crowley  (resigned,  O.  S.  Holum  appointed',  J.  Phillips. 

1876-77.  G.  C.  Russell,  chairman;  J.  H.  Palmiter,  J.  C.  Fischer,  D.  D. 
Logan,  D.  Bechtel,  O.  Hanson,  J.  E.  Hidden,  F.  Ritchie,  P.  N.  Johnson, 
C.  Drakeley,  H.  J.  Boiling,  M.  L.  Boyce,  K.  O.  Himdall,  J.  E.  Wright,  J. 
M.  Sampson,  D.  L.  Van  Hoesen,  J.  Hess,  Robert  Wootton,  Stephen  D. 
Carpenter,  J.  Nader,  J.  I).  Bradford,  L.  Clark,  W.  H.  Porter,  F.  Elver.  J. 
Lvlc,  P.  Baldwin,  L.  M.  Anderson,  W.  Q.  B.  Weltzin  (resigned,  O.  O.  Bar- 
ton app'd),  W.  B.  Atkinson,  P.  M.  Fabing,  C.E.  Loveland,  M.  Johnson,  D. 
Ford,  J.C.  Chandler (re'gned,  J. Norris  app'd),  F.L.Warner,  C.G. Cross,  R.J. 
Poyner,  H.  Hathaway,  S\  J.  Caldwell,  J.H.  Tierney,  H.S.  Grinde,  J.  Phillips. 


DANE    COUNTY    OFFICERS. 


659 


County  Clerks  from  the  date  of  their  election  to  each  successor 


1847— Elisha  Burdick 
1848— Royal  Buck 
1849— Syslvester  Giles 


1853 —  Gabr.  Bjornson 
1857— E.  J.  Reuter 
1859— J.  P.  M'Pherson 


I860— J.  A.  Johnson 

1800—11.  Borchsenius 

1873— W.  C.B.Weltzin 


1875— Phillip  Barry, present  incumbent 

County  Treasurers  front  date  of  eh  ction  up  to  their  successors. 

fSiiTf.'.  K'  \f ,kin        '    im~^m'  D-  Bird        I  »«eO-Wm.  Vioman 
«t~«h'i-s,rtl-  I    **£5-Wni. A.  Wheeler    1865— L.  VV.  Hoyt 

ti?-"  '»•  ?  ■$  yman      {*57-E.  II.  Gleason      I  18ti7-\Ym.  <  lmHeton 

18oO-Wayh  L.  \  arney   |    2SS9— Frank  Gaul  t         |  i*<7— Frank  B.  Ames* 

187<j—  B.  M.  Minch,  present  incumbent 

[*  Deceased,  Win.  McOonneil  elected  to  fill  vacancy.] 

Register  of  Deeds  from  dale  of  election  up  to  their  successors. 
lH v-Irrar,W,"»r'inl  !    **5*-John  1!.  Sweet     I  186()-Am\\v.  Pickarts 

^.;«    n '?■■    "?'es       '    i*5°—  James  G.  Fox      [  2*6  7-John  Gibbon 
io£?~~Vabnel,n.1V,LonS|    2«57— C.  Cornehusen    I  2*7  J— John  II  Clark. 
1851— James  G.  Fox      I    1859— Fred.  Mohr  |  1873-L.  J.  Grinde 

1877—0.  S.  Holum,  present  incumbent. 


Count//  Surveyors 
1849— D.  P.  Travis 
1853-H.  Babbitt 
1855— Wm.  II.  Hough 
1859 — John  Douglas 

District.  Attorneys 
1849— Chatin.  Abbott 
1851— Geo.  B.  Smith 
1853— Samuel  R.  Roys 
1855— Myron  II.  Orton 
2*57— J.  W.  Johnson 


from  date  of  election  up 
1860—T.  D.  Coryell 
1862— P.  W.  McUabe 
1865— H.  A.  Warner 
1867— C.  H.  Barton 

from  date  of  election  tip 
1859— E.  W.  keyes 
J 860— Henry  M.  Lewis 
18  62— C.  T.  Wakeley 
1865— Sidney  roote 
1867— Farlin  Q.  Ball 


?o  their  successors. 
1869- L.  P.  Drake 

i  1871—  S.  W.  Graves 
1875— John  Douglas 
2*77— Jas.  Melvile 

f©  their  successors. 
1869— H.  J.  Chase 
187 1-J.  C.  McKenney 
1873— Burr  W.  Jones 
1877— W.  H.  Rogers 


Sheriffs  from  date  of  election  up  to  their  successors 


1849— P.  W.  Matts 
1851— A.  Main 
IS.;.?— P.  W.  Matts 
1855 — Andrew  Bishop 
2*57— John  D.Welch 


1859 — Andrew  Bishop 
1860— Albert  Slier  win 
1862— WUlett  S.  Main 
1865— Geo.  BlcDougal 

1*67— Willett  S.  Main 


1869 -B.  Hancock 
1 8  7 1 — Andrew  Sexton 
1873 — John  Adams 
18  75 — J.  \  .  Kiser 

1877— Win.  Charleton 


Coroners— 1851,  Chas.  Wilson  1833-4,  Andew  Bishop.  1853-6,  O  W.Thorn- 
»ii  ^('o-;BAN^Cra8we11-  1839-60,  Alex.  Norman.  1860-61,  Alex.  Still- 
well.  1862-5,  D.D  Carpenter.  1865-6,  William  M.  Colladay.  1867  to  1872, 
P.  R.  Tierney.    1873-4,  P.  Bacon.    1875-7,  John  Arians. 

County  Superintendents  of  Poor. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  held  January  18,  1834,  a  resolu- 
tion was  offered  by  Mr.  O.  H.  MaRette,  from  town  of  Montrose,  that  three 
superintendents  of  county  poor  be  appointed;  one  to  hold  office  for  three 
years,  one  for  two  years,  and  one  for  one  year, which  was  adopted,  and  on  the 
19th  the  board  proceeded  to  ballot  for  candidates  with  the  following  result: 
1854-6-Wm.  R.  Taylor.    1834-5-James  P.  McPherson.    1854— Elijah  Isham. 

Each  election  thereafter  being  for  three  years,  commencing  in  January  and 
ending  December,  the  following  gentlemen  have  been  elected  to  the  office: 

16ct"7t^T  w0'  DoW  ,  JS?6cf~£-  P-  McPherson  1837-9- W.  R.  Taylor  1858-60- 
H.  M.  Warner  1So9-61— Peter  W.  Matts  18H0-8— W.  R  Taylor  1861-3— 
H.  M.  Warner  1862-4-P  W.  Matts  1863-5-W.  R.  Taylor  18W-6-H.  M. 
Warn,e£o  l^ZS  y-  ¥atts  l8fi«-?-W.  R.  Taylor  1867-9-H  M.  War- 
ner 1868-70-VV  W.  Tredway.  1869-71-Wm.  R.  Tavlor,  (resigned,  O.  W. 
Thornton  elected  to  fill  vacancy")  1870-2— H.  M.  Warner  1871-3— T  E 
Bird  187S-4—0  W.Thornton  1873-5— H.  M.  Warner  (deceased.  J.  Mcken- 
zie elected  to  hH  vacancy)  1874-6-T.E  Bird  1875-7-J.E.  Mann  1876-8 
— John  Mckenzie    1877-9. 


660  DANE    COUNTY    OFFICERS. 

The  following  named  persons  have  been  the  successive  judges  of  the  coun- 
ty court  of  the  county  of  Dane,  from  its  organization  up  the  present  time, 
which  has  been  kindly  furnished  us  by  the  Hon.  Gabriel  Bjornsou. 

County  Judr/cs. 

Hon.  I.  H.  Palmer,  of  Lodi,  Columbia  county,  was  the  first  acting  county 

judge;  but  only  signed  one  order  as  such,  dated  June  50th,  1S40. 
Hon  A.  Botkin  was  iiext  judge,  dating  from  Nov.  28,  1842,  to  May  1,  1S43. 
William  W.  Wyman  became  county  judge  from  June  1,  1843,  to  Jan,  4. 1845. 
Jesse  A.  Clark,  from  April  12,  1845,  to  December  31,  1840. 
E.  B.  Dean,  Jr.,  from  January  1,  1847  to  December  31,  1848 
Daniel  B.  Snedden,  from  January  1849  to  end  of  December  of  the  same  year 
Hon  John  Catlin,  from  January,  1850  to  October  28th  of  the  same  Year 
Hon.  N.  B.  Eddv  from  November  4th,  1850,  to  July  3d.  1854 
Hon.  Julius  P.  Atwood,  from  July  6th,  1854.  to  December  31st,  1856 
J.  G.  Knapp,  from  January  5th,  1857,  to  April  20th  of  the  same  vear 
D.  C.  Bush,  from  April  23d,  1857,  to  April  13th,  1858 

Hon.  S.  R.  Roys,  elected  April,  1857  for  term  of  1858.  but  died  in  fall  of  1857 
Hon.  Tbos.  Hood,  to  fill  1he  above  vacancy,  from  April  16, 1858,  to  Dec.  31, 1865 
Hon.  Geo.  E.  Bryan-,  from  Jan.  1,  1866,  to  December  31,  1877,  when  his  suc- 
cessor, Hon.  Alden  S.  Sanborn,  will  commence  his  term,  January  1,  1878 

Clerks  of  County  Court. 

The  clerks  successively  employed  in  said  court  were:  Daniel  Noble  John- 
son, Cbas.  Reese.  T.  J.  Widvey,  Benton  McConnell.  Richard  Bandolph, 
Gabriel  Bjorason,  Miss  nattie  Bryant  (now  Mrs.  Loomis).  sister  of  Judge 
Geo.  E.  Bryant;  and  M.  B.  French.  Of  those,  Mrs.  Loomis  served  the 
longest  time,  to  wit,  six  years,  and  Gabriel  Bjornson,  the  present  clerk 
under  Judge  Bryant,  the  next  longest  time,  five  years,  he  having  served 
from  1864  to  the  31st  day  of  December,  1865,  under  Hon.  Thos.  Hood,  and 
commenced  service  under  Judge  Bryant,  April  1st,  1874. 

The  following  list  of  clerks  of  the  circuit  court,  has  been  kindly  furnished 
us  by  the  Hon.  Wm.  A.  Wheeler,  deputy  clerk. 

Clerks  of  Circuit  Court. 
Oct.  7th.  1839.— Simeon  Mills,  appointed  by  Judge  Irvin. 
Nov.  10th,  1847— Elisha  Bnrdick,  appointed  by  Judge  lrvin. 
1853— Charles  Lnm.        I  1801— J.  J.  Starks.    '     I  1809— Geo.  W.  Stoncr. 
1855—  Frank H.  Firman  |  1803— Carl  Habich.        |  1871— L.  D.  Frost. 
18.->7— Mvrou  T.  Bailev.  I  1805— H.  A.  Lewis.         I  1873— L   D.  Frost. 
1859— L".cius  Fairchiid  |  1807— H.  A.  Lewis.        |  187 5-7— Bernard  Esser. 

County  Superintendents  of  Schools. 


1 1  th  Senate  District  2d  District. 

1862— B.  A.  Barlow  1863— S.  L.  Hookerr 

262A  District.        -  !  18P8-S.  H.  Carpenter 

1862— E.  Kelly    (except  1869— Isaac  Kierstad 

Madison)  I  1870— S.  C.  Cooledge 


1872—0.  J.  Taylor 
1874-6— M.  S.  Frawlcy. 

Ut  District 
1868-J.  Q.  Fmerv 
1870  -  Theo.  D.  Kanouse 


Ut  District. 1872-4— W.  II.  Chandler  1876-A.  R  Ames 


MEMBERS  OF  LEGISLATIVE  ASSEMBLIES. 

Council  from  1838  to  1S48. 

1838-42— E.  Brigham        I   1843-4— Lucius  T.  Barber  1  1845-6— John  Catlin 

18)7-8— A.  L.  Collins 

Representatives  from.  1838  to  1S4S. 


1838-40— D.S.  Sutherland 
1840-2—  Lucius  I.  Barber 
Jas.  Sutherland 


1845— Chas.  S.  Bristol 
Noah  Phelps 
Geo.  H.  Slaughter 


1842^— 1.  H.  Palmer        ,   184(1— Mark  R.  Clapp 
L.  Crossmnn  Wm.  M.  Dennis 

Robert  Masters   |  Noah  Phelps 


1847— Wm  A.  Wheeler 
Chas.  Lum 
John  W.  Stewart 
1847-8— E.  T.  Gardner 
Alex.  Botkin 
John  W. Stew  art 


DANE    COUNTY    OFFICEKS.  661 

Constitutional  Conventions. 

The  following  were  members,  for  Dane  county,  of  the  lirst  constitutional 
convention,  assembled  at  Madison,  October  5th,  1846,  and  adjourned  in  De- 
cember, of  the  same  year,  after  having  framed  a  constitution.    This  consti- 
tution was  rejected  by  the  people  at  the  election  in  April,  1847: 
John  Y.  Smith,  Abel  Dunning,  Benjamin  Fuller,  Geo.  B.  Smith,  Nathaniel 

F.  Hyer,  John  Babcock. 

SECOND   CONVENTION. 

On  the  loth  of  December,  1847,  a  second  convention  met,  and  framed  a  con- 
stitution that  was  adopted  by  the  people  in  March,  1848.  The  following  gen- 
tlemen were  members  for  Dane: 

Chas.  M.  Nichols,  Wm.  A.  Wheeler,  Wm.  H.  Fox. 


Senate  from  1848  to  1877. 


9th  District. 
1848— Simeon  Mills. 
1849-50— Alex.  Botkin. 
1851-2— E.  B.  Dean,  Jr. 

Uth  District. 
1853-4— T.  T.Whittlesey. 
J855-8— Hiram  H.  Giles. 
1859-60— Wm.  R.  Taylor. 
1861-2— Sam'l  C.  Bean. 


1863-6— W.  H.  Chandler. 
1867-8— C.  E.  Warner. 
1869-70— N.  Williams. 
1871— Wm.  M.  Colladay. 

26<A  District. 
1857— Hiram  C.  Bull. 
1858-'.t-And.  Proudtit. 
1860-1— John  B.  Sweat. 
1862-3-B.  F.  Hopkins. 


1864-5-  Thos.  Hood. 
1866-7— Jas.  K.  Proudfit. 
1868-9— Carl  Habich. 
1870-7—  R.  E.  Davis. 

1th  District. 
1872— Wm.M.  Colladay. 
1873-4— J.  A.  Johnson. 
1875-6— Geo.  E.  Brvant. 
1877-8— Geo.B.  Burrows 


Members  of  Assembly,  from  1848  to  1877. 

1848. — Henry  M.  Warner,  Ebenezer  Brigham,  Samuel  R.  Roys. 

1819.  —  Charles  Rickerson,  Ira  W.  Bird,  Samuel  R.  Roys. 

1850  — John  Hasey,  Chauncey  Abbott,  Oliver  B.  Bryant. 

1851.  — Abram  A.  Boyce,  Augustus  A.  Bird,  Gabriel  Bjornson. 

1852. —  Alex  Botkin,  Hiram  H.  Giles.  William  A.  Pierce. 

1853.  —  M.  Roache.  H.Barnes,  StorerW. Fields,  P.  C  Burdick,  H.  L.Foster. 

1854.—  Samuel  H.  Baker,  H.  Barnes,  H.  S.  Orton,  P.  W  Malts.  C.  R.  Head. 

1855.  —  LB.  Vilas,  J.  Mosher,  S.  G.  Abbott,  G.  P.  Thompson,  W.  R.  Taylor. 

1856.—  Augustus  A.  Bird,  Geo.  A.  P.  Thompson,  Augustus  A.Huntington, 

Wm.  M.  Colladay,  Chas.  R.  Head 
1857. — John  A.  Johnson,  Robert  W.  Davison,  Robt.  P.  Maine,  John  B. 

Sweat,  Horace  A.  Tennev,  Natl.  W.  Dean. 

1858.  — Daniel  B.  Crandall,  John  W.  Sharp,  Storer  W.  Field,  Henry  K.  Beld- 

ing.  Frank  Gault,  Alex.  A.  McDonell. 

1859.  —  Wm.  M.  Blackmail,  Adam  Smith,  John  Keenan,  Chest.  N.  Waterbury, 

Harlow  S.  Orton,  Geo.  B.  Smith. 

1860.  — Wm.  M.  Blackman,  Eleazer  Grover,  Jr.,  John  Beath,  Francis  Fischer, 

Leonard  J.  Farwell,  Cas.rius  Fairchild. 

1861.  — Sereno  W.  Graves,  W.  H.  Chandler,  Edward  W.  Dwight,  Fred.  A. 

Pfaff,  Dominick  O'Mallev,  David  Atwood. 

1862.  — B.  F.  Adams,  W.1I.  Chandler,  A.  S   Sanborn,  N.  M.  Matts,  E.  .Tussen. 

1863.  — Chas.  R.  Head.W.  II.  Miller,  A. S.  Sanborn,  Geo.Wright,  Geo.  Hver. 
1864. —  W.M.  Blackmail, W. II.  Miller,  A.S.  Sanborn,  G.Wright,  GeO.B.Smith. 

1865.  —  Wm.  M.  Colladav.  A.  A.  Bovce,  DavidFord,  John  S^Frarv,  Jas.  Ross. 

1866.  — W.D.  Potter,  .JM.  Flint.  G.H.  Slaughter, W.Charleton.  B'.F.  Hopkins. 

1867.  — Isaac  Adams,  J.  M.  Flint,  Frank  Gualt,  Hugh  Cathcart,  E.  Wakelev. 

1868.  — N.Williams,  Knute  Nelson,  Frank  Gault,  G.  Tollefson,  L.  B.  Vilas." 
1369.  — J.  E.  Johnson,  Knute  Nelson,  J.Adams,  Andw   Henry,  Geo.B.  Smith. 

1870.  —  C  E.  Loveland.W.H.  Chandler,  .T.Adams,  J.R.  Crocker,  A.S.  Sanborn 

1871.  —  L.O.  Humphrey, K  O.  Heimdal,  M.Anderson,  O.Torgerson,  H.S.  Orton 

1872.  —  Benjamin  F.  Adams,  John  D.  Gurnee,  John  Adams,  Phineas  Baldwin. 
1873.—  Oliver  W.  Thornton,  Levi  B.  Vilas,  Otto  Kerl,  Hiram  H.  Cornwell. 

1874.  —  John  Johnson,  Philo  Dunning,  John  B  Rehl,  Michael  Johnson. 

1875.  —  Isaac  Adams,  S.  U,  Pinney,  David  Ford,  Michael  Johnson. 

1876.  —  Wm.  Seamonson,  Wm.  Charleton,  Peter  Zander,  Michael  Johnson. 

1877.  —Michael  Johnson,  Phineas  Baldwin,  Geo.  Weeks. 


662  DANE    COUNTY   OFFICERS. 


TILLAGE  AND  CITY  OF  MADISON. 

Village  of  Madison  from  1840  to  1850. 

1S40.  Thomas  W.  Sutherland,  president;  Eliab  B.  Dean,  Jr.,  Peter  W. 
Matte,  Barlow  Shackleford,  Alonzo  Wilcox,  Win.  N.  Seymour,  and  James 
Morrison,  trustees:  J.T.Clark,  clerk;  D.  Clark,  treasurer;  A. Vial,  marshal. 

1847.  A.L.  Collins,  president;  D.B  Suedden,  Benj.  Holt,  Wm.  Pyncheon, 
Win.  Welch,  Chester  Bushnell,  and  IS.  II.  Smith,  trustees;  J.  li.  Bngham, 
clerk;  N.  S.  Emmons,  assessor. 

1848.  A.  L.  Collins,  president;  J.  C.  Fairchild,  J.  P.  Mann,  Chauncey 
Abbott,  William  Pyncheon,  Henry  C.  Parker,  Daniel  Mallo,  IrvMees  ;  J.  R. 
Brigham,  clerk;  1.  W.  Bird,  treasurer;  A.  Main,  assessor. 

1849.  A.  L.  Cullino,  president;  J.  T.  Clark,  K.  S.  Emmons,  J.  D.  Rug- 
bies, D.  n.  Wright,  trustees;  A.  Vial,  treasurer;  T   Reynolds,  marshal. 

1850.  W.  N.  Seymour,  president;  B.  Holt,  S.  Mills,  D.  11.  Wright,  A.  A. 
Bird,  trustees;  CM.  Oakley,  treasurer;  W.  O.  Wells,  marshal;  li.  M. 
Williamson,  assessor.    [Mr.  Stoner  appears  as  a  trustee  in  May  U,  1850.] 

1851.  Simeon  Mills,  president;  L.  J.  Farwell,  A.  A  Bird,  Win.  \\  elch,  H. 
A.  Tenney,  David  H.  Wright,  trustees;  E.  Burdiek,  clerk;  Darwin  Clark. 
treasurer;  Jas.  Richardson,  assessor;  A.  Bishop,  -marshal. 

185'*!.  Chauncey  Abbott,  president;  H.  A.  Tenney,  F.  G.  Tibbets,  E.  L.  Var- 
ney,  P.  H.  Van  Bergen,  M.  Friend,  trustees;  Robt.  L.  Ream,  clerk;  J.  J. 
Starks,  treasurer;  d.  D.  Welch,  marshal;  A.  Bishop,  assessor. 

1853.  II.  A.  Tenney,  president;  F.  G.  Tibbets,  B.  Cannon,  Casper  Zwickey, 
A.Wilcox,  D.  Atvvood.  B.  F.  O'Brien,  trustees;  W.  Welch,  clerk;  J.J. 
Starks,  treasurer;  L.  W.  Hoyt,  assessor;  A.  Manning,  marshal. 

185-1.  Simeon  Mills,  president;  P.  II.  Van  Bergen,  Geo.  C.  Albee,  G.  M. 
Oakley  (C.  Weed  to  fill  vacancy  of  Oakley),  M.  Friend,  Jas.  Eivesey,  A. 
Bishop,  trustees;  D.  N.  Johnson,  clerk;  M.  Cleary,  treasurer;  D.  C.  Bush 
assesso/';  I.  E.  Brown,  marshal. 

1855.  P.  H.  Van  Bergen,  president;  L.  J.  Farwell,  L.  W  Hoyt,  Wm.  Car- 
roll, John  G.  Griffin,  H.  A.  Tenney,  J.  Sumner,  trustees;  D.  N.  Johnson 
(Wm.  N.  Seymour,  unexpired  term),  clerk;  Alonzo  Wilcox,  treasurer;  D. 
O.  Bush,  assessor;  I.  E.  Brown,  marshal. 

City  of  Madison,  1850  to  date. 
1850.  Jairus  C.  Fairchild.  mayor;  Wm.  N.  Seymour,  clerk;  Johnson  J. 
Starks,  treasurer;  Arthur  B.  Braley,  police  justice;  street  superintendent 
(senior  alderman);  Fred  Mohr,  marshal;  Daniel  R.  Coit.  ciiy  attorney;  P. 
W.  M'cCabe,  city  surveyor.  Aldermen  —  1st  W.,  A.  E,  Brooks,  T.  Heeran, 
A  Kraez :  ul  w.,  N.  B.  Van  Slyke,  J.  N.  Jones,  D.  J.  Powers;  3d  w.,  C.G. 
Mayers,  P  H.Van  Bergen,  (resigned,  W.  F.  Baker  elected),  A.  S.Wood;  4th 
W.,  S.  M.Van  Bergen,  Joseph  Bobbins,  Timothy  Kinney. 

1857-8.  A  A.  Bird,  mayor;  W.  N.  Seymour,  c^/-A-,(disabled by  a  stroke  of 
paralysis,  S.H.  Carpenter  elected  1857,  resigned  1*5S);  F  Sauthoff,  treasur- 
er; Arthur  B.  Braley,  police  justice;  street  superintendent  (senior  alder- 
man); Andrew  Bishop,  chief  of  police;  Abbott,  Clark  &  Coit,  city  attor- 
neys; William  M.  Hough,"  city  surveyor.  Aldermen  —  1st  w.,  Abiel  E. 
Brooks.  Thomas  Heeran.  Casper  Zwickev;  2d  w..  Napoleon  B.  Van  Slvke, 
D.  J.  Powers,  J  T.  Clark,  (resigned);  3d  w.,  C.  G.  Mayers,  J.  O.  Griffin,  D. 
R.  Hyer;  4th  w.,  S.  M.  Van  Bergen,  T.  Kinney,  Jos.  Hobbins. 

1858-9.  Geo.  B.  Smith,  mayor;  Henry  Wright,  clerk;  James  K.  Proudfit, 
treasurer ;  Arthur  B.  Braley,  police  justice;  Simeon  Mills,  street  superin- 
tendent; S.  U.  Pinney,  city  atto'y;  VV,  M.  Hough,  city  survyor,  (deceased, 
L  P.  Drake  elected);  H.  K.  Edgertoii,  city  assessor.  Aldermen  —  1st  w. 
Thomas  Heeran,  A.  Sherwin,  Simeon  Seckles;  2d  w.,  David  J.  Powers- 
Eri  S.  Oakley,  James  Jack;  3d  w.,  John  G.  Gi;iffin,  Darwin  Clark,  Chris 
tian  Henrichs;  4th  w.,  T.  Kinney,  C.  Fairchild,  P.  L.  Dovvling. 

1859-00.  Geo.  B.  Smith,  mayor;  Chas.  Geo.  Mayers,  clerk;  Andrew  Sex- 
ton, treasurer;  Aithur  B.  Braley,  police  justice;  John  Shealey,  chief  of 
police;  Simeon  Mills,  street  superintendent,  (resigned,  W.  Knight  elected): 
John  R.  Baltzell,  city  attorney;  J.  A.  Li«ov/i!<ki,  c/ty  surveyor)  H  Wright, 
city  assessor.  Aldermen  —  1st  w.,  A.  Snerwin,  John  Zehnpfenning.  Wil- 
liam Dudley:  2d  w.,  Eri  S.  Oakley,  Joseph  Bayer,  William  Hawley;  3d  w., 
Darwin  Chirk,  Fred.  C.  Festner,"  Ezra  C.  Squires;  4th  w.,  Cassius  Fair- 
child,  John  A.  Byrne,  Joseph  Hobbins. 


DANE    COUNTY    OFFICERS.  663 

1860-1.  G.  B.  Smith,  mayor;  C.G.  Mayers,  clerk;  J  C.  Schetie,  treasurer; 
A.  B.  Braley,  police  justice;  J.  A.  Slavin,  street  superintendent  (resigned, 
F.  S.  Van  Bergen,  elected  to  till  office  of  chief  of  police  and  street  superin- 
tendent;) C.  Ainsworth,  city  attorney;  PAV.  McCaoe,  city  surveyor;  David 
11.  Wright,  city  assessor.  Aldermen  —1st  w.,  J.  Zehnpfenning,  P.  O'Bryau, 
P. 11. Turner  2dw.,  J.  Bayer,  J.  W.  Sumner,  D.K.  Tenney;  •  dw..  P.C.Pest- 
ner,  D.  Clark,  K.  Tierney;  4th  w.,  J.  A.  Byrne,  T.  Kinney,  J.  Y.  Smith. 

1801-2.  L,  B.  Vilas,  mayor;  C.  G.  Mayers,  clerk,  (resigned,  Wm  A.  Hayes 
elected):  F.  C.  Festner,  treasurer;  A.  B.  Braley,  police  justice;  P.  S.  Van 
Bergen,  sireei  superintendi  nt  and  chief  of  police;  Levi  P.  Brake,  city  sur- 
veyor; George  H.  Barwise,  city  assessor.  Aldermen—  1st  w.,  Parrel 
O'Bryan,  G.  E.  Bryant,  (resigned).  Peter  H.  Turner;  2dw.,  J  W.  Sumner, 
Daniel  K.  Tenney,  J.  Adler  Ellis;  3d  w.,  Darwin  Clark,  ^yron  Tierney, 
John  George  Ott;  4th  vv.,  Timothy  Kinney,  Geo.  B.  Seekles.  J.  Y.  Smith! 

1863-3. 


Kavanaugh,  (resigned,  E.  B.  Dean,  Jr.,  appointed),  G.  Grimm ;  2d  w.,  U.  K. 
Tenney,  (resigned,  J.  H.  Carpenter  elected),  T.  E.  Bird,  A.C.  Davis;  3d  w., 
K.  Tierney,  C.  W.  Ileyl,  W.  M.  Kasdall,  Jas.  Ross;  4th  w.,  G.  B.  Seekles, 
(resigned,  John  Dunn  elected),  Fd.  G.  Kavanaugh,  Chas.  H.  Luce, 

1863-1.  W.  T.  Leitch,  mayor;  W.A.  Hayes,  clerk;  C.  W.  Hey],  treasurer; 
P.  W.  McCabe,  city  surveyor;  C.  Ainsworth,  police  justice;  Chas.  T. 
Wakeley,  city  attorney;  A.  Bishop,  street  superintendent  and  chief  of  po- 
lice; P.  H  Turner,  city  assessor,  (resigned,  F  Mohr  appointed).  Aldermen 
—  1st  w.,  E.  B.  Dean,  Jr.,  J  Monaghan,  J.  Zehnpfenning;  2d  w.,  T.E.  Bin', 
J  H  Carpenter,  H  M.  Lewis;  3d  w.,  C.  W.  Heyl,  (resigned,  K  Tierney 
elected),  J.  Boss,  J.  T.  Stevens  (resigned,  H.  Winkler  elected);  4thw,E. 
C.  Kavanaugh,  H.  N  Moulton,  (resigned,  T.  Kinney  elected),  J.  Hobbins, 
(resigned,  J  M   Dickinson  elected) 

1861-5.  Win.  T.  Leitch,  mayor;  Wm.  A  Hayes,  city  clerk,  (resigned,  S.H. 
Carp /liter  elected);  C.  W.  Heyl,  treasurer;  J.  M.  Flower,  police  justice; 
J.  B.  Hyland,  street  superintendent  and  chief  of  police ;  J.  R.  Baltzell,  city 
attorney;  P.  McCane,  city  surveyor;  J.  Reynolds,  city  assessor.  Aldermen 
—1st  w.,  J.  Monaghan,  A.  Wald,  E.  Sprague,  (resigned,  A. B.  Braley  elec- 
ted i ;  2d  w.,  J.H.  Carpenter,  H.M.  Lewis,  T.  Brown ;  3d  w.,  J.  Ross,  K.  Tier- 
ney,  B.  Doerschlag:   4th  w.,  T.Kinney,  J.  M.  Dickinson,  G.  D.  Lincoln. 

1865-6.  Elisha  W.  Keyes,  mayor;  S.  11.  Carpenter,  clerk;  John  Reynolds, 
treasurer;  James  M.  Flower,  jiolice  /us/ire;  H.  W.  Tenney,  city  attorney; 
Ira  W.  Bird,  st reef  superintendent  and  chief  of  police  ;  P.  W.  McCabe,  city 
surveyor,  (resigned,  L.  P.  Drake  elected) ;    Wm.  T.  Leitch,  city  assessor. 


t866-7  Elisha  W.  Keycs,  mayor ;S.  H.  Carpenter,  clerk;  S.  V.  Shipman, 
treasurer;  John  R.  Baltzell,  police  justice;  C.  G.  Mayers,  city  assessor;  I. 
W.  Bird,  street  superintendent;  Benj.  F.  Larkin,  chief  of  police;  C.  T. 
Wakeley,  city  attorney;  Levi  P.  Drake,  city  surveyor.  Aldermen  —  1st  w., 
Arthur  B.  Braley,  James  Conkliu,  Hannibal  Lacher;  2d  w.,  L.  S.  Ingman, 
Henry  M.  Lewis,  John  Corscot;  3d  w.,  Ebenezer  Sprague,  Kyron  Tierney, 
B.  M.  Nienaber;  4th  w.,  T.  W.  Gibbs,  G.  W.  McDougal,  (did  not  qualify, 
W.  Abeel.  elected),  L.  D.  Stone,    (resigned,  J.  C.  McKinnev  elected). 

1807-8.  Aldcn  S.  Sanborn,  mayor;  S.  H.  Carpenter,  clerk;  G.  Memhard. 
treasurer;  John  R.  Baltzell,  police  justice;  A.  Bishop,  street  superinten- 
dent ;  W.  Hickey,  chief  of  police,  (resigned,  J.  Shealey  appointed);  C.  T. 
Wa.;eley,  city  attorney;  P.  W.  McCabe,  city  survnjor  ;  T.  C.  Bonrke,  city 
assessor.  Aldermen  —  1st  w.,  J  Conklin,  Robt  Nichols,  S.  Engel;  2d  w. 
Henry  M.  Lewis,  Myron  T.  Bailey,  A.  Riley  Jones;  3d  w.,  Kyron  Tierney, 
H.  Christoffers,  P.B.  Kissam;  4th  w.,  L.D.  Stone,  H.N.  Moulton,  S.  Foren. 

1868-9.  D.Atwood,  mayor;  S.H.  Carpenter,c/e/-fc,  (resig'd,  J.  Corscot  eiect- 
ed);  J.  Conkhn,  treasurer;  J.  R.  Baltzell,  police  justice;  A.  Bishop,  street 
superintendent ;  J.  W.  Tolford,  chief  of 'police. ;  A.  B.  Braley,  city  attorney  ; 
P.  W.  McCabe,  city  surveyor ;  T.  C.  Bourke,  city  assessor.  Aldermen— -1st 
w.,  R.  Nichols,  S.  Engel, (resigned,  F.  Daubner  elected),  A.  McGovern;  2d. 
w.,  M.  T.  Bailey,  R.  Wootton,  H.  Steensland;  3d.  w.,  H.  Christofiers,  P.  B. 
Kissam,  Ole  Thompson;  4th.  w.,  H.  N.  Moulton,  L.  D.  Stone,  A.  S.  Frank. 


Q64: 


DANE    COUNTY    OFFICERS. 


1869-70.  Andw.  Prondfit,  mayor;  John  Corscot,  clerk;  W.  Habich,  Jr., 
treasurer ;  J .  R.  Baltzell,  police,  justice;  Andrew  Bishop,  street  superin- 
tendent: T.  C  Botsford,  chief  of  police ;  A.  S.  Sanhorn,  city  attorney:  P. 
W.  McCabe,  «7y  surveyor;  N.  L.  Andrews,  assessor;  A.  Kctnig,  pound 
master.  Aldermen:  1st.  w.,  G.  Anderson.  D.  K.  Tenner,"  F.  Daubner; 
2d  w.,  A.  R.  Jones,  (resigned,  W.  Deards  elected),  M.  T.  Bailey,  K  \V out- 
ton;  3d  w.,  H.Winckler,  J.  M.  Bowman,  P.  B.  Kissam;  4th  w.,  S.  Forau.  P. 
Young,  L.  B.  Stone. 

1870-1.  Andw. Prondfit,  mayor;  John  Corscot,  clerk:  Andrew  Pickarts, 
treasurer  ;  John  11.  Baltzell,  police  justice  ;  Andrew  Bishop,  street  superin- 
tendent;  3.  Shealey,  chief  of  police ;  A.  S.  Sanborn,  city  attorney ;  P.  VV. 
McCabe,  city  surveyor ;  N.  L.  Andrews,  assessor.  Aldermen  —  1st  w.,  F. 
Daubner,  F.  O'Brien,  G.  Anderson:  2d  w.,  Walter  Beards,  A.  Daubner,  M. 
T.  Bailey;  3d  w.,  J.  M.  Bowman,  W.  H.  Karnes,  H.  Winckler;  4th  w.,  J. 
Ross,  H.  N.  Moulton,  S.  Foren. 

1871-2.  Jas.  B.  Bowen,  mayor;  John  Corscot,  clerk;  John  Lewis,  treas- 
urer; J.  K.  Baltzell,  police  justice;  And.  Bishop,  street  superintendent ; 
Chas.  C.  Hammer,*  chief  ot  police;  Jos.  C.  Ford,  city  attorney:  P.  W.  Mc- 
Cabe, city  surveyor;  N.  L.  Andrews,  assessor;  W.  J.  Manning,  pound 
master.  Aldermen — 1st  w.,  James  Conklin,  Henry  Vilas,  Fred  Daubner; 
2d  w.,  A.  Daubner,  C.  P.  Chapman,  Walter  Deards;  3d  w.,  J.  G.  Ott,  W.  H. 
Karnes;  J.  M.  Bowman;  4th  w.,  Thos.  Dean,  Fstes  Wilson,  James  Ross. 

1872-3.  Jas--.  H.  Hill,  mayor;  John  Corscot,  clerk;  Chas.  G.  Mayers,  treas- 
urer; A.  B.  Braley,  police  justice;  Levi  P.  Drake,  street  superintendent  and 
surveyor,  (  resigned,  A.  Bishop  appointed);  J.  C.  Ford,  city  attorney ;  W. 
T.  Leitch,  assessor;  W  J.  Manning, pound  master.  Aldermen— 1st  w.,  E. 
Cook,  G.  Bunker,  J.  Conklin ;  2d  w.,  It.  Wootton,  C.P  Chapman,  A.  Daub- 
ner; 3d  w.,  F.  M.  Dorn,  J.  Lewis,  J.  G.  Ott;  4th  w.,  A.  Webster,  E.  Wilson, 
Thos.  Dean. 

1873-4.  J.  C.  Gregory,  mayor;  John  Corscot,  clerk;  W.  Farrell,  treasurer; 
A.  B.  Braley,  police  justice;  Andrew  Bishop,  street  superintendent ;  Chas. 
K.  Tenney,  city  attorney;  Wm.  T.  Leitch,  assessor;  Isaac  Smith,  pound 
master.  Aldermen  —  1st  w.,  George  Bunker,  John  Ileeran,  E.Cook;  2d 
w.,  C.  P.  Chapman,  A.  Daubner,  R.  Wootton;  3d  w.,  H.  Kleuter,  Darwin 
Clark,  F.  M.  Dorn;  4th  w.,  Andrew  Sexton,  Thos.  Dean,  Estes  Wilson. 

1871-3.  Silas  U.  Pinney,  mayor;  John  Corscot,  clerk;  Gottlieb  Grimm, 
treasurer;  A.  B.  Braley,  municipal  judge;  Jas.  Quirk,  city  surveyor ;  A. 
Bishop,  street  superintendent  and  chief  of  police;  C.  K.  Tenney,  city  attor- 
ney; W.  T.  Leitch.  assessor;  B.  Squires,  pound  master.  Aldermen  —  1st 
w.,  Geo.  Bunker,  (ieo.  Memhard,  Thos.  Hayden;  2d  w.,  C.  P.  Chapman, 
W.  K.  Barney,  T.  B.  Worthington;  3d  w.,  Darwin  Clark,  Frank  M.  Dorn, 
H.  Kleuter;  4th  w.,  A.  Sexton,  P.  L.  Spooner,  Jr.,  M.  P.  Walsh. 

1875-H.  S.  U.  Pinney,  mayor;  John  Corscot,  clerk;  Thos.  P.  Coyne,  treas- 
urer; A.  B.  Braley,  municipal  judge;  James  Quirk,  city  surveyor:  A. 
Bishop,  street  superintendent  and  chief  of  police;  Chas.  K.  Tenney,  city  at- 
torney ;  W.  T.  Leitch,  assessor;  Ezra'  Squires,  pound  master.  Aldermen— 
1st  w.,  Henry  Oakey,  Thos.  Hayden,  Geo.  Memhard;  2d  w.,  A.  S.  Sanborn, 
A.  Frederickson,  T.  B.  Worthington;  3d  w.,  C.  F.  Bicderstaedt,  Darwin 
Clark,  Wm.  Welch;  4th  w.,  P.  L.  Spooner,  Jr  ,  M.  P.  Walsh,  Peter  Young. 

1870-7.  John  N.  Jones,  mayor;  John  Corscot,  clerk;  R.  J.  McConnell, 
treasurer;  A.  B.  Braley.  municipal  judge ;  John  Nader,  surveyor  and  street 

superintendent ;  Frank  M.  Dorn,.  chief  of  police;  ,  city  attorney;  Theo. 

Herfurth,  assessor;  J  McEvily,  pound  master.  Aldermen  —  1st  w.,  W.  T. 
Fish,  Geo.  Memhard,  Alex.  Gill;  2d  w.,  A.  S.  Sanborn,  S.  A.  Hale,  J.  E. 
Rhodes;  3d  w.,  C.  F.  Bierstaedt,  Ernst  Mueller,  Wm.  Welch;  4th  w.,  M.  P. 
Walsh,  Dan.  Campbell,  W.  J.  L.  Nicodemns;  5th  w.,  Jas.  Conklin.  Jacob 
Silbernagel,  H.  Oakey.  . 

1877-8.  H.  S.  Orton,  mayor;  John  Corscot,  clerk;  M.  J.  Cantwell,  treas- 
urer; A.  B.  Braley,  municipal  judge ;  John  Nader,  surveyor;  Andrew  Bish- 
op, street  superintendent  and  chief  of  police  ;  Charles  K.  Tenney,  city  attor- 
ney ;  0.  G.  Mayers,  assessor;  J.  McEvily,  pound  master.  Aldermen  — 1st 
w.,  W.  A.  Booth,  W.  T.  Fish,  Jos.  Sehweinem;  2d  w.,  John  Lamont,  Wm. 
Habich,  Jas  E.  Rhodes;  3d  w.,  W.  H.  Lansing,  Ernst  Mueller,  Aug.  Ram- 
thnn;  4th  w.,  John  Hayes,  W.  J.  L.  Nicodemns,  A.  M.  Daggett;  5th  w.,  Ja- 
cob Silbernagel,  James  Conklin,  N.  H.  Dodge. 


HIRAM  G.  DODGE 


DEALER   IN 

ANTHKACITE  COAL. 


BITUMINOUS    COAL. 

CANCEL  COAL. 

~~B  LOSS  BURG     COAL. 
CHAKCOAL. 


MAPLE  WOOD, 

OAK     WOO  D. 


FINE    SALT. 

COARSE     SALT. 

DAIRY    SALT, 
NEW     YORK     STUCCO. 
MICHIGAN    STUCCO. 
ROSENDALE    CEMENT.  AKRON    CEMENT. 

THE  CELEBRATED   PEWAUKEE  WHITE  LIME. 


FIRE    BRICK.  FIRE    CLAY. 

WHITE    AND    RED    BRICK. 

Land  Plaster  and  Plastering  Hair. 

EAST    MADISON. 


GRAIN,    STORAGE    AND   COMMISSION. 

WEST    MADISON. 


ELEVATOR  AND  GRAIN  OFFICE, 

On  Washington  Avenue,  near  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  Saint 

Paul  Depot. 

COAL    YARD    OFFICE, 

Corner  of  Main  and  Blount  Streets,  near  the  Gas  Works. 


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SLATER  &  BALL, 

FOUNDERS  AND  MACHIK 

MADISON,  WISCONSIN, 


MANUFACTURE 

Well  Drilling 

MACHINERY 

AND 

Agricultural  Goods. 


The  Slater  Cultivator. 


COMBINED  FURNACE  AND  KETTLE. 


MADISON  MUSEUM. 


A  RARE  COLLECTION  OF  LIVING  AND  STUFFED  SPECI- 
MENS OF  ANIMATED  NATURE. 


NEW   ADDITIONS   FREQUENTLY   MADE. 


Entrance  through  the  bird  store,  opposite  north  corner  of  the 
Park,  on  Mifflin  and  Pinckney  streets.     Customers  Free. 


D.  CLARK. 


MANUFACTURER   AND   DEALER   IN 


FURNITURE 


215  MAIN  STREET,  MADISON,  WIS. 


THE  OLDEST,  MOST  RELIABLE 

Having  sold  more  Goods  than  any  other  establishment  of  the 
kind  in  the  City,  and  now  offers  the 

LARGEST  AND  MOST  COMPLETE  ASSORTMENT 

Comprising  everything   possible  for    a  family  to  want,  in  his 
line  of  goods,  to  be  found  in  Madison. 


CHAMBER   SUITS,   PARLOR   SUITS, 

Dining  Room,  Office  and  Library  Furniture. 

WOVEN   WIRE   MATTRESSES,  BED   SPRINGS, 

KITCHEN  FURNITURE,  ETC., 
At  Prices  Lower  than  any  other  House  in  the  City. 

UPHOLSTERING  AND  REPAIRING  FURNITURE, 

Done  iu  Good  and  Substantial  manner. 
LIVE  GEESE  FEATHERS  ALWAYS  ON  HAND. 


ARTISTIC   PHOTOGRAPHY 


The    Very  Best   J\£cide. 

Comparison  as  to  Work  Challenged. 


1ST.  IP.  JTOlsriES, 

MILLS'  BLOCK,  MAIN  ST.,  -  MADISON.  WIS. 


J.  A.  JOHNSON,  HALLE  STEENSLAND, 

President.  Secretary 


IE!  IE  IKI L -A. 

FIRE  INSURANCE  COMPANY 

OF  MADISON,  WISCONSIN. 


CASH  PAID  UP  CAPITAL,         -         8160,000.00 
ASSETS  OCTOBER  J,  1877,     -         -     220,000.00 


This  Company  has  a  re-insurance  fund  of  $50  000  00 
deposited  with  the  State  Treasurer,  for  the  protection  of  the 
insured. 

B^~The  funds  of  this  Company  are  not  sent  out  of  the  State  » 
but  arc  kept  at  home  and  loaned  to  the  patrons  of  the  Company 
on  Real  Estate  Security,  at  legal  rate  of  interest. 


THE  PERFECTION  OF  MOWING  MACHINES. 


SE?  Meadow  King 

IMOWER 


Improved  for  1878. 


The  Meadow  King  has  no  side  Draft,  no  weight  on  the  horses7  necks, 
no  cogs  in  the  drive  Wheels.  IT  IS  A  FRONT  CUT,  and  therefore  there 
is  no  danger  of  accident  by  falling  in  front  of  the  finger-bar.  In  short, 
while  the  Meadow  King  does  not  belong  to  what  are  called  cheap  mow- 
ers, still,  it  is  cheaper  in  the  long  run,  even  though  it  cost  a  trifle  more 
than  some  other  mowers  at  first,  because  it  will  do  more  work,  last  longer, 
run  lighter,  and  cost  less  for  repairs.    Thus  proving  that 

"THE    BEST    IS    THE    CHE APEST." 


The  Old  Reliable 


60,000  Now  in 

Use. 


THE 


,,  LEADER 

m      no.  i. 


fowMitJiA 


AS  A  REAPER. 


A  Wrought  Iron  Frame,  both  Tiltine  and  Lifting  Levers. 

It  has  a"  Wrought  Iron  Frame,  and  is  Guaranteed  to  do  Better  \\  ork 
with  less  power  than   any  other  Reaper. 

The  Leader  cuts  six  feet  wide,  has  a  Steel  Finger  Guard,  with  Steel 
Tlated  Malleable  Guards,  with  one  Knife  and  one  Sickle. 


S.  L.  SHELDON, 


Madison,    Wis. 


WISCONSIN 

STATE  JOURNAL, 

ESTABLISHED  IN  1849, 

DAILY.  TRI-WEEKLY  AND  WEEKLY. 


OFFICIAL  STATE   PAPER. 


KEPEESENTATIYE  OF  THE  KEPUBLICAN 
PARTY  AT  THE  CAPITAL. 


Daily,  per  annum,  in  advance,        -  -  $10  00 

Tri-Weekly,  per  annum,  in  advance,  -  -  5  00 

Weekly,  per  annum,  in  advance,    -  -  1  50 

Any  person  who  will  send  live  subscribers  to  either  the  Dailj*, 
Tii-Weekly  or  Weekly,  with  the  cash,  at  regular  subscription 
rates,  will  receive  a  sixth  copy  gratis. 

We  propose  to  make  the  State  Journal  the  best  Family  and 
Political  Paper  in  ihe  State.  We  have  the  rarest  facilities  for 
giving  interesting  matter  pertaining  to  State  affairs,  and  every 
opportunity  will  be  improved  to  make  the  paper  valuable  to  its 
subscribers. 

SUBSCRIBE  FOR  THE  STATE  JOURNAL. 


Connected  with  the  Journal  office,  we  have  the  most  complete 

JOB  OFFICE  AND  STEREOTYPE  FOUNDRY 

in  the  Northwest,  and  are  always  prepared  to  turn  out  the  very 
best  Book  and  Job  Printing  that  can  be  done  in  this  country. 

David  Atwood, 

Madison,  Wis. 


EXLIVT 

PLOWS 


LOOK  AT 


IHE  CAPITAL  CITY  CUPPERS, 


MANUFACTURED   BY 


FIEMIN,  BILLINGS  &  KOE 


AT 


mubiscs  plow  works. 


We  Challenge  Comparison  of  our 
Improved  Clippers, 

Light  or  Heavy  Styles,  Wood  or  Steel  Beams, 
Single  or  Double  Shins,  High,  Low  or  Me- 
dium Landsides,  with  any  and  all  other 
Plows  brought  to  this  market,  both  as  to 
Quality  and  Price.  We  call  particular  at- 
tention to  our  Splendid 

STEEL   BEAM  PLOWS, 

Which  cannot  be  beaten.    Also  to  our 

LIGHT    PRAIRIE    PLOWS, 

Which  are  Good  and  Cheap.    And  to  our 
"OLD  RELIABLE" 

FULL  CLIPPER  PLOWS, 

With  Extra  High  and  Thick  Steel  Landsides. 

Which   excel   all  other  makes  or  kinds  for  Strength,  Dura- 
ility  and  Variety  of  .Work.     Our  Breaking  Plows,  Sod  Plows, 
Corn  and  Hop  Plows,  cannot  be  surpassed  for  Wisconsin  soils. 

Call  at  the  Factory  and  Examine  our  Plows  for  Yourselves, 
before  Buying.  We  are  selling  first-class  Plows  at  Bargains  to 
Dane  County^Farmers,  and  Repair  all  kinds  of  Plows  in  the  most 
skillful  and  workmanlike  manner,  at  FAIR  RATES. 


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